Travel App: Acceptability and Usage of Tourists in Cavite

Research Outline
Submitted to the Faculty of the
Cavite State University Tanza Campus
Brgy. Bagtas Tanza Cavite

Second Semester, AY 2021 - 2022

In partial fulfillment of the requirements in
Tourism Research

Mark Nesty Arias

Jake Sagario
James Dickson Ballao
Nicole N. Banguilan
Michaella Feranil
Princess Angelica Relator

June 2022
 Travel App: Acceptability and Usage of Tourists in Cavite

Mark Nesty Arias

Jake Sagario
James Dickson Ballao
Nicole N. Banguilan
Michaella Feranil
Princess Angelica Relator

An undergraduate thesis manuscript submitted to the faculty of the Department of Management, Cavite
State University – Tanza Campus, Tanza Cavite in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management (with Contribution No. ____________________. Prepared
under the supervision of Ms. Mary Rose E. Elamparo

INTRODUCTION

Without a doubt, the tourism industry is among the sectors that have been greatly affected by the

COVID-19 pandemic. The closing of borders, airports, and hotels as well as restrictions on mass

gatherings, land travel and related services across the world put around 100 to 120 million jobs at risk, as

estimated by the World Tourism Organization. In the Philippines, the government closed the airports in

Luzon on 20 March as part of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) that started in the island on 16

March. The tourism sector has already felt the negative impact of the pandemic on its performance much

earlier. In other countries, travel restrictions and measures have started as early as January of this year,

and have impacted the Philippine international tourist arrivals. Domestic tourists, on the other hand, also

limited their travel for fear of contracting COVID-19.

Travelers are experiencing difficulties more particularly here in Cavite because there are few people

who are unable to book for travel because they have something to attend to and not only that,

establishments are also obligated to limit their costumers because of the social distancing. But because of

the pandemic and the rules imposed by the government top mobile app development business creates new

travel and tourism apps. Using your smartphone, you can carry all of the information you need on the go.

There is no additional fee for paying the agents, and you are never obligated to book a specific hotel.
 Android App Development Company created a travel and tourist app. While utilizing this app, the

payment procedure is also incredibly secure. The most intriguing feature of these apps is that they gratify

passengers and form a strong link with businesses because they do not require them to wait in a big line.

The researchers found that tourists’ perceived satisfaction with a travel app is positively associated

with their loyalty intention. Thus, this study determines the significant effects of usage and impact of using

the Travel app. Also, how do they see the essence of the travel application, and how easy is it for them to

navigate the application used for the travel and tourism industry. The benefits of this research are to

identify the importance of mobile applications to tourists in Cavite and how they affect the tourism industry.

The researchers conducted this research to focus on developing the tourism industry while using mobile

applications that run on technology. It will help them to lessen, minimize, or overcome stressful events

because those travel apps can enhance their visibility and presence in the competitive travel industry. This

study will share specific knowledge about the tactics and techniques of how mobile apps are necessary for

the travel and tourism industry.

Thus, this study will determine the acceptability and usage of travel apps by local tourists in Cavite.

Also, this will determine if the perceived acceptability of the tourist has an effect on their usage of travel

apps.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the relationship between the profile and the acceptability and usage of

the travel app. The researchers focused on the study of determinants of a traveler’s intention to utilize travel

apps.

Specifically, this study answers the following questions:

1. What was the socio-demographic profile of the participants in terms of?

a.) age

b.) sex

c.) civil status

d.) monthly income

e.) frequency of using a travel app

 2.) What is the perceived level of acceptability of tourists in terms of?

a.) benefits?

b.) trust?

c.) self-efficacy?

d.) ease of use?

f.) security?

3.) Does the perceived level of acceptability of tourists have an effect on their usage of travel

apps?

Objectives of the Study

This study aims to determine the relationship between the profile and the acceptability and usage of

the travel app. The researchers focused on the study of determinants of a traveler’s intention to utilize travel

apps.

Specifically, the study aimed to:

1. Determine the socio-demographic profile of the participants in terms of.

a.) age

b.) sex

c.) civil status

d.) frequency of using a travel app

e.) monthly income

2.) Determine the perceived level of acceptability of tourists in terms of.

a.) benefits of using a travel app

b.) trust

c.) self-efficacy

3.) Identify the perceived level of acceptability that affects their usage of

Travel app.

4.) Based on the findings proposed an acceptable Travel app for the

Tourist.

Conceptual Framework
 This section presented the framework that the researcher used in presenting the study. In

determining the perceived level of acceptability and usage of the Travel app of tourists in a different tourist

destination in Cavite, the study was anchored on the IPO model as the research paradigm, as shown in

Figure 1.

Independent variables - Acceptability

Dependent variables - Usage of Travel App

PROCESS OUTPUT
INPUT
Assessment of the
respondents to
Socio Demographic perceive the level of Proposed an acceptable
profile of the acceptability. travel app for tourist.
respondents. Comprehensive tools
100 respondents thru
App features, Trust and survey and and features of travel
Self-efficacy. questionnaire method. app.

Figure 1. Research Paradigm

Hypothesis

This null hypothesis for this study was the perceived acceptability of the tourist has an effect on their

usage of travel apps.

Significance of the study

This study helped determine the benefits of this research to identify the importance of mobile

applications to tourists from selected municipalities of Cavite and how they affect the tourism industry. The

researchers conducted this research to focus on how to develop the tourism industry while using mobile

applications that run on technology.

Travel App Developer

 This study aims to help tourists by using travel apps to provide a place for them. Travel apps help

users search for destinations, find good flight accommodation deals, and book services. Hence

Local tourist

This study examines the influence of tourism websites on tourists' perceptions and impressions,

which significantly determines their plan to visit a destination. Thus, to affect tourists' perceptions, more

information is provided to the tourist through different websites. This study will determine how it will aid in

increasing the number of visitors to the destination.

Future researchers

To clarify the importance of mobile applications to tourists in Cavite and how they affect the tourism

industry then, this study provides potential ways for the present and future that will provide some

opportunities for the development that will enhance the visitor experience and destination's identity and

brand expression because of travel apps. Furthermore, the research offers practical implications for using

travel apps.

Tourism industry

The study provides sound, valuable information and how tourists attribute the effectiveness and

impact of using travel apps. Lastly, this study will share a certain knowledge about the tactics and

techniques of how mobile apps are necessary for the travel and tourism industry.

Time and Place of the Study

This study will be conducted from May 2022 to June 2022. The data will be gathered from the

answers of tourists from selected municipalities in Cavite.

Scope and Limitation of the Study

This research focuses on 100 random respondents who visited a selected tourist destination in

Cavite. It will help the researcher to measure the effectiveness and level of acceptability of travel apps

among tourists. This will help the researcher to develop effective features and usage of the travel app.

This research will not extend to local and foreign tourists who have not yet visited the selected

tourist destination in Cavite.

Definition of Terms
 The following terms were operationally defined in the study:

Tourism Industry is the sum of all businesses that directly provide goods or services to facilitate

business, pleasure, and leisure activities away from home.

Mobile application is a software application designed to run on a mobile device such as a phone,

tablet, or watch. 

Travel apps software applications have been developed specifically for use on smaller devices,

such as smartphones and tablets, and can be used by business travelers to book and manage their travel whilst

on the move.

Acceptability in research is designed to obtain useful information for examining the extent to which

an intervention meets the needs of the target population and organizational setting.

Usage means the use of something, the way in which it is used, or how much it has been used.

Benefits are the advantage or the profit gained of that consumer or the person using this kind of

travel apps.

Trust is the relationship to be gained with our consumer.

Self-efficacy is the belief that we can achieve influence over the conditions that affect our lives.

Ease of use means if a client is easily able to use your product, service or application, there will be

less need for customer services, in turn saving you time and money as a business.

Security means safety, as well as the measures taken to be safe or protected. The consumer must

know that all their transactions are secure.

 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This section presents the related literature and studies of the proposed research study.

Travel Application

Technology offers various tools to boost development and exchange information. Both of these are

IT's goals: to make tasks easier and to solve many problems. Technologies such as mobile phones,

computers, tablets, and everything that is considered a gadget have changed the society we live in. And

now, what is the application? An application program is a computer or mobile program designed to carry out

a specific task other than one relating to the operation of the computer itself, typically one to be used by

end-users. Word processors, media players, and accounting software are examples. In the previous

research, Mobile Application Development in the Tourism Industry and its Impact on On-Site Travel

Behavior, the said research title aimed to identify how mobile applications affect the tourism industry and

their impact on on-site travel. Apparently, the research literature focused on how to develop the tourism

industry while using an application that runs on technology. https://app.travel.philippines

Usage it is the use of something, the way in which it is used, or how much it has been used, refers

to the conventional ways in which words or phrases are used, spoken, or written in a speech community.

Usage is defined as the way that something is being used, or to the proper way to make use of something

such as a word or phrase or tool. https://mythought.co

In the current era of globalisation, the Internet plays a major role in people's lives. It has also altered

the style of people travel by providing a cheaper, more convenient and more efficient price. Recognizing the

broad impact of travel applications on the travel sector, researchers have focused on the study of

determinants of travellers' intention to utilize travel apps. In addition, among the consumer behaviour

models used to study the tourism sector, is Unified Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model

which is the common and new models nowadays. Therefore, the existing study is expected at evaluating
the local residents' intention to utilize mobile travel applications based on the UTAUT model.

https://www.researchgate.net

Travel app nowadays is very convincing and convenient with its user. This paper seeks to know the

possibility and tourist perception on travel application. Perception of tourist in travel is rapidly increasing

month by month as of this pandemic continuously erupt like a wildfire, tourist thinks that travel app is way

more useful that it was. https://journals.sage.co

Mobile applications, frequently referred to as apps, are a type of software application explicitly

developed to run on a mobile device such as smartphones or tablets (Technopedia, n.d.). Traditionally,

mobile apps often reflect similar services as those provided on a PC. However, some of the most

successful apps are built on the concept of making use of the unique features of mobile devices. Today,

mobile devices share a number of powerful characteristics, such as big displays, Internet access, context-

relevant push notifications, location tracking functionality (Want, 2009), and health tracking, that enable

consumers to enhance their everyday activities. Outstanding examples of such companies range from

mobile messaging apps such as Whats App to last minute booking apps like Hotel Tonight and location-

based services like Google Maps, all of which share the concept of "mobile first", meaning that the product

was specifically designed for mobile usage. Mobile applications have been first popularized by Apple with

the introduction of its App Store, soon followed by Google’s Play Store, which both offer a storefront for

developers to distribute their software to consumers since 2008. As of today, both Apple and Google

feature some 1.2 to 1.3 million applications (Statista, 2013) in their respective app stores, accumulating a

total revenue of $26 billion in 2013 (Statista, 2013), a number which can be expected to rapidly grow within

the next five years, according to Statista (2013), the world’s leading statistics company on the Internet,

which further forecasts mobile-generated revenue to surpass the $75 billion mark by 2017.

In our research, it now aims to identify how the users are able to use the travel application. How do

they see the essence of the travel application and how easy is it for them to navigate the application that is

used for travel and tourism?

 CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter sets out the steps and procedures that were followed in conducting the study.

Specifically, the chapter presents the procedure that was followed in selecting research subjects,

developing the instrument, collecting and analyzing data and finally, making sense of data collected.

Research Design

This study utilizes the qualitative method of research, specifically phenomenological research.

Phenomenology is a type of approach that concentrates on the study of consciousness and the objects of

direct experience. It is widely accepted that the qualitative method of research emphasizes objectives by

collecting some information by means of a survey. Relatively, the method is appropriate for this study

because its objective was to identify the effects and usage of using the Travel app.

Participants of the Study

The data utilized in this study came from the responses of 100 random respondents who visited a

selected tourist destination in Cavite. Quota sampling was used as a sampling technique in selecting the

said participants.

Data Gathered

The respondents for this research study are 100 tourists who are visited in selected tourist

destination in Cavite and randomly selected using a travel app, either male or female. We have chosen

those respondents to allow us to easily identify the benefits of the travel app. The researchers then

conducted a question by interviewing those respondents, resulting in five random people. Using a

qualitative research method doesn’t require a large number of respondents, so those 5 random people in

Cavite will be enough to represent the entire population.

Data Gathering Procedure

The presentation summarizes the planning of a qualitative research approach to gather data from an

interview process and the analysis of the data. The problem was initiated when the researchers wondered if

some other people didn't know how to use mobile applications like travel apps. The team leader assigned
her members to interview the 100 random respondents who visited a selected tourist destination in Cavite,

who use the mobile app the most and to accumulate the necessary information for this study, the

researchers chose five random people for them to have an easy one-on-one interview. The data that the

researchers gathered will undergo analysis and interpretation for us to determine the conclusions,

significance, and implications of the research findings. It is one of the processes that the researcher uses to

identify the best results and enables the researcher to have an in-depth knowledge of the findings.

Data Analysis

We gathered information by conducting research and asking questions to various tourist in Cavite,

to learn about the various strategies they used to deal with Travel App, and we gathered data from what we

found to different responses from tourist to our questions.

Research Instrument

The researchers prepare questions for the interview in order to gather the desired information

needed for this study. They will also add some follow-up questions during the interview to support the

answers of the respondents. The information given in the interview will come from five random people in

Cavite who like to travel using a travel app.

The researchers conducted their interview with a permission letter signed by their professor. It is to

show that their research study is reliable and valuable to other people. The said letter was also made to

avoid misgiving the participants. The profile and the answers of the participants will be confidential, as was

assured in the signed letter. The information given in the interview will be kept confidential and will be used

only for academic purposes. The names of the respondents and the names of other schools and other

public names will not appear in this research study.

 Table 1 presents the verbal and descriptive interpretation for the online shoppers’

satisfaction on online courier services in Tanza, Cavite.

Table 1. Descriptive interpretation for the online shoppers’ perception on online courier services
NUMERICAL DESCRIPTIVE
VERBAL INTERPRETATION
RANGE INTERPRETATION

The participant has an

4.21 - 5.00 Strongly Agree
excellent assessment on the
online courier services

The participant has very

3.41 - 4.20 Agree
good assessment on the
online courier services

The participant has good

2.61 - 3.40 Slightly agree
assessment on the online
courier services

The participant has poor

1.81 - 2.60 Disagree
assessment on the online
courier services

The participant has very

1.00 - 1.80 Strongly disagree poor assessment on the
online courier services