Authors: BERGADO, Aubrie Genesis B., IBARDALOZA, Charm Jill P., SALAMAT, Mary Jane, VILLAFUERTE, Charmie Ann P., and CRUZADA, Enrico

Issue: 2022-2023

Abstract:

The concept of “smart tourism” emerged from the integration of cutting-edge technologies into existing travel contexts, most frequently urban areas. Although it draws heavily on the concepts behind smart city development, its inception and implementation have occurred outside of larger smart city programs. This study aimed to discover if Makati City in the Philippines has the means to function as a smart tourism city. The researchers chose a quantitative research design because it best served to answer the questions and the purposes of the study. Along with quantitative approach, the researchers also decided to pair it with descriptive method since the two designs align with one another. Majority of the respondents were 21-30 years old, female, students, and their purpose of visit in Makati City was leisure. 

As results of the study in terms of the smart tourism city indicators, the attractiveness indicator has an overall mean of 3.52, for the accessibility indicator is 3.33, for the digital preparedness is 3.33, and for the sustainability is 3.42. On the respondents’ assessment on the use of technology in different attractions of Makati City, the tour guides and tourist information have an overall mean of 3.39, for the transactions on reservations and bookings is 3.50, for the malls is 3.49, for museums is 3.42, and for the city parks is 3.55. 

The first hypothesis aims to determine if there is any significant difference in the assessment on the different indicators of a smart tourism city when the respondents are grouped according to their profile. The second hypothesis intends to settle if significant difference can be seen in the Level of Assessment in the use of technology when the respondents are grouped according to their profile. The third hypothesis targets to rule out if there’s significant correlation between the indicators of a smart tourism city and the use of technology in different attractions of Makati as assessed by the respondents.

Keywords: Makati City, Smart City, Smart Tourism City