The digital flow of ecotourism exploring pre-, on-, and post-visit tech use in tourist satisfaction

Abstract

Smart tourism technologies are increasingly embedded in nature- based destinations, yet their effects across the tourist journey remain underexplored. The study analyzes how smart technology used before, during, and after a visit influences tourist satisfaction in a mangrove ecotourism context. A survey of 408 visitors was conducted, and the data was examined through descriptive statistics and multiple regression. Findings reveal that on-site technology use has the strongest positive effect on satisfaction (β = 0.543, p < 0.001), while post-visit sharing on social media also contributes significantly (β = 0.139, p < 0.001). Pre-visit technology engagement shows no significant impact (β = 0.031, p = 0.538). The overall satisfaction level was high (M = 4.269, SD = 0.804). The results emphasize the importance of immersive on-site experiences supported by meaningful post-visit engagement. This research advances ecotourism and smart tourism studies by demonstrating the temporal role of technology in shaping satisfaction and provides managerial guidance for improving visitor experiences. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed