Antecedents of the intention to use NFC mobile applications in tourism

Purpose Near-field communication (NFC) technology introduces new and better experiences for tourists while improving operating processes in the tourism industry through the use of smartphone applications. The purpose of this research is to explore and analyse the antecedents of the adoption of NFC mobile applications (app) regarding the search for information in a tourist destination. Design/methodology/approach Based on the review of the literature, three groups of antecedents are proposed. The groups are associated with the usability of mobile technology itself, the benefits derived from its use and the possible risks that the tourist assumes. To achieve these objectives, an online questionnaire was filled by 218 participants after they watched a video explaining the use of NFC tourism apps in a Spanish tourist destination. Findings Partial least squares revealed that perceived value, performance risk, usefulness and perceived enjoyment have a strong relationship with the intention to use of tourism apps. Originality/value The conclusions and implications for management provide alternatives for companies to promote this new business by means of the new technical developments.