International Journal of Applied Business Research
Vol 7 No 01 (2025)

Virtual Reality Application in Rural Tourism Experience: Influence of Authenticity and Tourist Satisfaction.

Aditia Sobarna (Postgraduate Program in Sustainable Tourism, Padjadjaran University, Indonesia)
Kurniawan Saefullah (Postgraduate Program in Sustainable Tourism, Padjadjaran University, Indonesia)
Sapari Dwi Hadian (Postgraduate Program in Sustainable Tourism, Padjadjaran University, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
20 Jan 2025

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of virtual reality (VR) on tourists' perceptions of authenticity and satisfaction within the context of village tourism. Although research on VR tourism has been extensive, specific studies on VR tourism in village settings remain limited, presenting unique challenges due to the distinctiveness of these destinations, often marked by authenticity and natural uniqueness. By involving 385 respondent samples collected through tourism forums and social media platforms in West Java and its surroundings, data collection was conducted from March to April 2024 using purposive sampling. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was utilized with SmartPLS to analyze the relationships between inner and outer models. The results indicated that authenticity significantly influenced both the authenticity of activities and objects, which then impacted tourist satisfaction. Furthermore, the study did not find significant differences in satisfaction based on the type of VR devices used, emphasizing the importance of content quality over technical specifications of the device. The theoretical contributions reaffirmed the importance of authenticity in VR tourism experiences, while managerial implications suggested focusing on the development of authentic content to enhance tourist satisfaction in VR tourism. Overall, this research reinforced the critical role of authenticity in VR tourism and provided practical insights for industry practitioners to enhance user experience and promote the maturity of the VR tourism industry.

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

ijabr

Publisher

Subject

Decision Sciences, Operations Research & Management Economics, Econometrics & Finance Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering Social Sciences

Description

The International Journal of Applied Business Research (IJABR), an academic journal in the field of business, published by Bandung State Polytechnic, Indonesia. This OPEN ACCESS Journal is intended to foster and stimulate the exchange of discourses on applied business research issues among ...