Exploring the Role of Augmented Reality Technology in Marketing Cultural Identity of Tourism Destinations: A Qualitative Analysis of Industry Experts’ Perceptions(مقاله علمی وزارت علوم)
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In the competitive tourism industry, augmented reality (AR) technology has emerged as a transformative tool for enhancing visitor experiences and promoting cultural identity by blending digital overlays with physical environments, yet prior research often overlooks its role in marketing cultural narratives from industry experts’ perspectives, revealing a theoretical gap in fostering emotional connections and sustainable development. This study aims to explore AR’s role in marketing the cultural identity of tourism destinations, examining how it creates competitive differentiation, strengthens tourist loyalty, and overcomes implementation challenges. Using a qualitative approach with thematic analysis, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 27 industry experts (academics, managers, and technology specialists in tourism and AR), achieving theoretical saturation after 18 interviews, with analyses grounded in frameworks such as Symbolic Interactionism, Experiential Marketing, and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Results revealed six main themes: enhancing cultural experiences (e.g., immersive 3D reconstructions), fostering emotional engagement (e.g., creating a sense of belonging), improving tourists’ understanding (e.g., enriching cultural knowledge and promoting responsible behavior), prerequisites for AR adoption (e.g., technological infrastructure and training), outcomes of AR implementation (e.g., increased trust and decision-making), and practical strategies (e.g., cost reduction via open-source platforms). AR delivers interactive, personalized experiences that bolster loyalty but faces barriers like high costs and the need for authentic content. This research fills the gap by providing a conceptual framework for AR in cultural marketing, offering practical recommendations for managers (e.g., collaborative content creation), developers (e.g., gamified apps), and policymakers (e.g., funding infrastructure), while emphasizing AR’s potential for sustainable tourism and suggesting future quantitative studies to validate these qualitative insights.