The evolution of tourism has been remarkable, both in the way information is made available and accessed, and in the way tourism products and services can be purchased and enjoyed, especially concerning accommodation, which is one of the main driving forces in this sector. When planning a trip, it is common for consumers to search for relevant information about accommodation options on Web sites to decide which one to book. While these allow for the evaluation of decisive factors, new avenues of future research in this field are linked to immersive, interactive, and sensory experiences to support the traveler in their choice, provided by emerging digital media such as virtual reality. This article offers a comprehensive understanding of the development of this field, highlights existing gaps, and proposes future research, systematizing the contributions of virtual reality to support the decision-making process of travelers when booking accommodation. To this end, a systematic literature review was carried out using Web of Science and Scopus, which resulted in 20 valid articles. From the analysis carried out, it was concluded that in the hotel industry, the use of this technology is still scarce, and research into virtual experiences in this area remains urgent. Virtual reality offers valuable contributions that influence consumer decision-making and, consequently, lead to an increase in booking intention. This article provides theoretical and practical contributions to outlining approaches that will enable a new era of smart tourism that improves travelers’ experiences when searching for and booking accommodation.

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

Virtual Reality to Support Booking Accommodation: Identification of Contributions, Strategies, and Opportunities in the Literature

  • Márcia Vaz,
  • Mário Vairinhos,
  • Paula Odete Fernandes

摘要

The evolution of tourism has been remarkable, both in the way information is made available and accessed, and in the way tourism products and services can be purchased and enjoyed, especially concerning accommodation, which is one of the main driving forces in this sector. When planning a trip, it is common for consumers to search for relevant information about accommodation options on Web sites to decide which one to book. While these allow for the evaluation of decisive factors, new avenues of future research in this field are linked to immersive, interactive, and sensory experiences to support the traveler in their choice, provided by emerging digital media such as virtual reality. This article offers a comprehensive understanding of the development of this field, highlights existing gaps, and proposes future research, systematizing the contributions of virtual reality to support the decision-making process of travelers when booking accommodation. To this end, a systematic literature review was carried out using Web of Science and Scopus, which resulted in 20 valid articles. From the analysis carried out, it was concluded that in the hotel industry, the use of this technology is still scarce, and research into virtual experiences in this area remains urgent. Virtual reality offers valuable contributions that influence consumer decision-making and, consequently, lead to an increase in booking intention. This article provides theoretical and practical contributions to outlining approaches that will enable a new era of smart tourism that improves travelers’ experiences when searching for and booking accommodation.