Using Augmented Reality to Improve Touristic Efficacy

The tourism sector, a major economic contributor, seeks innovative approaches to enhance the user experience. In this evolving landscape of global tourism, using augmented reality (AR) technology can be a way to increase the engagement of tourists, but current AR applications often overwhelm (and bo...

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Main Authors: Miguel Cabeleira, Carlos Vaz de Carvalho
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Computers
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-431X/14/2/75
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author Miguel Cabeleira
Carlos Vaz de Carvalho
author_facet Miguel Cabeleira
Carlos Vaz de Carvalho
author_sort Miguel Cabeleira
collection DOAJ
description The tourism sector, a major economic contributor, seeks innovative approaches to enhance the user experience. In this evolving landscape of global tourism, using augmented reality (AR) technology can be a way to increase the engagement of tourists, but current AR applications often overwhelm (and bore) the users with excessive information. This study addresses the challenge of designing an AR solution that increases the efficiency of exploring and navigating tourist routes, while minimizing information overload by only offering contextualized information about those itineraries. The AR application delivers personalized details about historical monuments, points of interest (POIs), and cultural landmarks, enriching educational experiences and promoting local tourism. The solution was tested on two historic routes, one in Porto and the other in Chaves (both in Portugal), chosen for their cultural richness. The study’s conclusions, derived from experimentation and statistical analysis, confirm the AR technology’s effectiveness in enhancing the efficiency, immersion, and contextualization of tourist routes.
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spelling doaj-art-80da1d618af34a15bb880ac9b58abcfe2025-08-20T03:12:05ZengMDPI AGComputers2073-431X2025-02-011427510.3390/computers14020075Using Augmented Reality to Improve Touristic EfficacyMiguel Cabeleira0Carlos Vaz de Carvalho1Departamento de Engenharia Informática, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalGILT R&D, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalThe tourism sector, a major economic contributor, seeks innovative approaches to enhance the user experience. In this evolving landscape of global tourism, using augmented reality (AR) technology can be a way to increase the engagement of tourists, but current AR applications often overwhelm (and bore) the users with excessive information. This study addresses the challenge of designing an AR solution that increases the efficiency of exploring and navigating tourist routes, while minimizing information overload by only offering contextualized information about those itineraries. The AR application delivers personalized details about historical monuments, points of interest (POIs), and cultural landmarks, enriching educational experiences and promoting local tourism. The solution was tested on two historic routes, one in Porto and the other in Chaves (both in Portugal), chosen for their cultural richness. The study’s conclusions, derived from experimentation and statistical analysis, confirm the AR technology’s effectiveness in enhancing the efficiency, immersion, and contextualization of tourist routes.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-431X/14/2/75augmented realitytourismtourist routestourism innovationtourist exploration
spellingShingle Miguel Cabeleira
Carlos Vaz de Carvalho
Using Augmented Reality to Improve Touristic Efficacy
Computers
augmented reality
tourism
tourist routes
tourism innovation
tourist exploration
title Using Augmented Reality to Improve Touristic Efficacy
title_full Using Augmented Reality to Improve Touristic Efficacy
title_fullStr Using Augmented Reality to Improve Touristic Efficacy
title_full_unstemmed Using Augmented Reality to Improve Touristic Efficacy
title_short Using Augmented Reality to Improve Touristic Efficacy
title_sort using augmented reality to improve touristic efficacy
topic augmented reality
tourism
tourist routes
tourism innovation
tourist exploration
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-431X/14/2/75
work_keys_str_mv AT miguelcabeleira usingaugmentedrealitytoimprovetouristicefficacy
AT carlosvazdecarvalho usingaugmentedrealitytoimprovetouristicefficacy