**4. Use of smartphones for tourist purposes: Feelings and emotions and functionalities**

The age of the group of respondents (n = 191) ranges from 16 to 38, which fits the age range of Gen Y according to Strauss and Howe [86]. In terms of sex, 37% are male and 63% are female. All of them live in Spain, except for two respondents, from the USA and China, respectively. Regarding their education level, most of them are in high school (*55.5%*), a quarter are undergraduates (*26.18%*), and an important share are at middle school (*10.99%*). The rest are distributed between primary education (*0.52%*), middle vocational education (*2.09%*), higher vocational education (*4.19%*) and postgraduate education (*0.52%*). This group of respondents were considered valid because they confirmed they owned a smartphone and had used it in their latest tourist trip.

#### **4.1 Feelings and emotions associated with smartphone use during travel**

**Figure 1** presents the results regarding the feelings and emotions experienced by respondents when using their smartphone during travel.

As shown in **Figure 1**, surveyed Gen Y members (*m*) experience with greater frequency negative emotions and feelings (*84 m*). Only 26 people in the sample claimed that smartphone use during travel almost always caused positive emotions and feelings. Also striking is the high number of participants who stated they almost never experience neither positive nor negative emotions (*90 m* and *93 m*, respectively)*.* Likewise, regarding the intermediate position (score 2), the bulk is placed in positive feelings and emotions (*75 m*).

Given the age amplitude of Gen Y, it is relevant to delve into the results on the feelings and emotions associated with smartphone use during travel, by focusing on the following three age segments: 16–19, 20–29 and 30–38 (**Figure 2**).

Negative emotions and feelings predominate in the 16–19 age group, since 93.83% of respondents in it selected the highest score for this type of feelings and emotions. Positive feelings and emotions are concentrated in the 20–29 age group. The intermediate score, "sometimes" (2), has been selected mostly for positive feelings by the youngest and oldest segments (*66.67%* and *50%*, respectively) of

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**Figure 1.**

**Figure 2.**

*Gen Y: Emotions and Functions of Smartphone Use for Tourist Purposes*

*Feelings and emotions associated with smartphone use during travel (total).*

the sample. Meanwhile, the lowest score, "almost never" (1), predominates in the two oldest age segments (20–29 and 30–38), for both positive and negative feelings, but to a greater extent for the latter. *83.65%* of respondents aged 20 to 29 claim they almost ever feel negative emotions derived from smartphone use. This percentage

Having identified the feelings and emotions associated with smartphone use during travel, the next step was to describe the frequency or intensity with which this use is oriented to tourism-related activities: navigation, information search and

Most respondents claim to use the three aforementioned functionalities with the highest frequency (**Figure 3**). In all cases, the highest score (*3*) leads the ranking. However, in the case of "learn about destination," the number of respondents who ranked it with 1 (*75 m*) is very close to that of those who ranked it 3 (*82 m*). This is the least commonly used functionality, followed by information search and navigation, which is the most-commonly used one. A more detailed analysis of these

The lowest score and, consequently, the least commonly used of all three functionalities predominates in the youngest age segment (16–19 years old). None of the respondents in 30–38 age group claimed to have never used any of the

learn about destination. The overall results are presented in **Figure 3**.

results according to the three age groups is presented in **Figure 4**.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94245*

increases to 100% for the 30–38 age group.

**4.2 Tourism-related functionalities of smartphones**

*Feelings and emotions associated with smartphone use during travel (age groups).*

#### *Gen Y: Emotions and Functions of Smartphone Use for Tourist Purposes DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94245*

#### **Figure 1.**

*Tourism*

during their trip.

using a 3-point Likert scale.

**and functionalities**

phone and had used it in their latest tourist trip.

placed in positive feelings and emotions (*75 m*).

respondents when using their smartphone during travel.

smartphone use during the latest trip. Following the scale developed by Watson et al. [85], the list of positive feelings and emotions included in the questionnaire are: interested, distressed, excited, upset, strong, guilty, scared, hostile, enthusiastic and proud. On the other hand, the set of negative feelings and emotions included: irritable, alert, ashamed, inspired, nervous, determined, attentive, jittery, active and afraid. In the scale, which served to indicate to what extent the respondent had felt those feelings and emotions, 1 means "almost never"; 2, "sometimes"; and 3, "almost always". In this set, options 1 and 3 are nuanced because it is possible that specific circumstances unrelated to the tourist experience (receiving good news, losing internet connection, etc.) may translate into feelings and emotions that do not describe faithfully the respondent's state of mind regarding smartphone use

Respondents' smartphone use for tourism purposes is examined in the last section using the scale developed by Tussyadiah and Zach [84], which focuses on a series of activities that are valued using a scale that ranges from "never" to "always." The questionnaire includes the following three activities: navigation, information search and learn about destination, similarly to Lalicic and Weismayer [31] but

**4. Use of smartphones for tourist purposes: Feelings and emotions** 

**4.1 Feelings and emotions associated with smartphone use during travel**

**Figure 1** presents the results regarding the feelings and emotions experienced by

As shown in **Figure 1**, surveyed Gen Y members (*m*) experience with greater frequency negative emotions and feelings (*84 m*). Only 26 people in the sample claimed that smartphone use during travel almost always caused positive emotions and feelings. Also striking is the high number of participants who stated they almost never experience neither positive nor negative emotions (*90 m* and *93 m*, respectively)*.* Likewise, regarding the intermediate position (score 2), the bulk is

Given the age amplitude of Gen Y, it is relevant to delve into the results on the feelings and emotions associated with smartphone use during travel, by focusing on

Negative emotions and feelings predominate in the 16–19 age group, since 93.83% of respondents in it selected the highest score for this type of feelings and emotions. Positive feelings and emotions are concentrated in the 20–29 age group. The intermediate score, "sometimes" (2), has been selected mostly for positive feelings by the youngest and oldest segments (*66.67%* and *50%*, respectively) of

the following three age segments: 16–19, 20–29 and 30–38 (**Figure 2**).

The age of the group of respondents (n = 191) ranges from 16 to 38, which fits the age range of Gen Y according to Strauss and Howe [86]. In terms of sex, 37% are male and 63% are female. All of them live in Spain, except for two respondents, from the USA and China, respectively. Regarding their education level, most of them are in high school (*55.5%*), a quarter are undergraduates (*26.18%*), and an important share are at middle school (*10.99%*). The rest are distributed between primary education (*0.52%*), middle vocational education (*2.09%*), higher vocational education (*4.19%*) and postgraduate education (*0.52%*). This group of respondents were considered valid because they confirmed they owned a smart-

**252**

*Feelings and emotions associated with smartphone use during travel (total).*

#### **Figure 2.**

*Feelings and emotions associated with smartphone use during travel (age groups).*

the sample. Meanwhile, the lowest score, "almost never" (1), predominates in the two oldest age segments (20–29 and 30–38), for both positive and negative feelings, but to a greater extent for the latter. *83.65%* of respondents aged 20 to 29 claim they almost ever feel negative emotions derived from smartphone use. This percentage increases to 100% for the 30–38 age group.

#### **4.2 Tourism-related functionalities of smartphones**

Having identified the feelings and emotions associated with smartphone use during travel, the next step was to describe the frequency or intensity with which this use is oriented to tourism-related activities: navigation, information search and learn about destination. The overall results are presented in **Figure 3**.

Most respondents claim to use the three aforementioned functionalities with the highest frequency (**Figure 3**). In all cases, the highest score (*3*) leads the ranking. However, in the case of "learn about destination," the number of respondents who ranked it with 1 (*75 m*) is very close to that of those who ranked it 3 (*82 m*). This is the least commonly used functionality, followed by information search and navigation, which is the most-commonly used one. A more detailed analysis of these results according to the three age groups is presented in **Figure 4**.

The lowest score and, consequently, the least commonly used of all three functionalities predominates in the youngest age segment (16–19 years old). None of the respondents in 30–38 age group claimed to have never used any of the

#### *Tourism*

**Figure 3.**

*Use of tourism-related smartphone functionalities.*

#### **Figure 4.**

*Use of tourism-related smartphone functionalities by age group.*

three functionalities. At the next frequency level ("sometimes"), the number of respondents aged 16 to 19 increases considerably, although this category is led by respondents in the 30–38 age group, compared to the three functionalities analyzed. Finally, respondents in the intermediate age group, 20 to 29, use these functionalities more than the younger segments.

**Figure 5** show the results on the emotions and feelings associated with each of the three tourism functionalities of smartphones.

First, **Figure 5** shows the frequency of use of the navigation function and the feelings respondents associate to it. Negative feelings stand out among those who use it the least (Navigation 1), since *76.47%* of them selected the highest score (almost always) for this type of feelings. Accordingly, *52.94%* of them selected the lowest score (almost never) for positive feelings. This is also the highest percentage among positive feelings. Those who use this functionality "sometimes" (score 2) also claim to experience negative feelings: *76.69%* experience this type of feelings almost always. Importantly, in the negative category, the "almost never" option (*1*) predominates over "sometimes" (*2*). Finally, those who use this functionality the most lead the ranking of positive feelings and emotions (*17.27%*), although a similar percentage (*18.18%*) exhibits the opposite trend. It is important to note that most respondents claim they do not associate either positive or negative feelings (*55.45%* and *72.73%*, respectively) with the use of the navigation functionality of the smartphone during travel.

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**Figure 6.**

*Gen Y: Emotions and Functions of Smartphone Use for Tourist Purposes*

Results regarding the use of the "information search" functionality, which refers to finding information about services, transport, for instance, are shown in

those who use the Information search functionality the least (*1*), with 51,85%. Accordingly, and in line with the reported trend, 51,85% of respondents who claimed to almost never use this functionality gave positive feelings the lowest score 1 (almost never). In this section, this is the highest percentage regarding the usage levels of this functionality. Within the group of respondents who claim to use this functionality "sometimes" (Information 2), once again there is a predominance of negative feelings (*72.41%*), while in the field of positives feelings the predominant scores are 2 (*50%*) y 1 (*39.66%*). Finally, confirming a great similarity to the navigation functionality, the majority of those respondents who use the information search functionality the most (*3*) claim they do not associate positive nor negative feelings (*50%* and *64.15%*, respectively) with the use of this function during travel

As in the case of the navigation functionality, negative feelings standout among

The status of the "learn about destination" (Learn dest.) functionality shows similarities to the previous ones, although in this case the most prominent categories are those related to not having experienced feelings or emotions. Within the

*Tourism-related smartphone functionalities: Feelings and emotions associated with navigation.*

*Tourism-related smartphone functionalities: Feelings and emotions associated with Information Search.*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94245*

**Figure 6**.

(**Figure 6**).

**Figure 5.**

*Gen Y: Emotions and Functions of Smartphone Use for Tourist Purposes DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94245*

Results regarding the use of the "information search" functionality, which refers to finding information about services, transport, for instance, are shown in **Figure 6**.

As in the case of the navigation functionality, negative feelings standout among those who use the Information search functionality the least (*1*), with 51,85%. Accordingly, and in line with the reported trend, 51,85% of respondents who claimed to almost never use this functionality gave positive feelings the lowest score 1 (almost never). In this section, this is the highest percentage regarding the usage levels of this functionality. Within the group of respondents who claim to use this functionality "sometimes" (Information 2), once again there is a predominance of negative feelings (*72.41%*), while in the field of positives feelings the predominant scores are 2 (*50%*) y 1 (*39.66%*). Finally, confirming a great similarity to the navigation functionality, the majority of those respondents who use the information search functionality the most (*3*) claim they do not associate positive nor negative feelings (*50%* and *64.15%*, respectively) with the use of this function during travel (**Figure 6**).

The status of the "learn about destination" (Learn dest.) functionality shows similarities to the previous ones, although in this case the most prominent categories are those related to not having experienced feelings or emotions. Within the

*Tourism*

**Figure 3.**

**Figure 4.**

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three functionalities. At the next frequency level ("sometimes"), the number of respondents aged 16 to 19 increases considerably, although this category is led by respondents in the 30–38 age group, compared to the three functionalities analyzed. Finally, respondents in the intermediate age group, 20 to 29, use these functional-

**Figure 5** show the results on the emotions and feelings associated with each of

First, **Figure 5** shows the frequency of use of the navigation function and the feelings respondents associate to it. Negative feelings stand out among those who use it the least (Navigation 1), since *76.47%* of them selected the highest score (almost always) for this type of feelings. Accordingly, *52.94%* of them selected the lowest score (almost never) for positive feelings. This is also the highest percentage among positive feelings. Those who use this functionality "sometimes" (score 2) also claim to experience negative feelings: *76.69%* experience this type of feelings almost always. Importantly, in the negative category, the "almost never" option (*1*) predominates over "sometimes" (*2*). Finally, those who use this functionality the most lead the ranking of positive feelings and emotions (*17.27%*), although a similar percentage (*18.18%*) exhibits the opposite trend. It is important to note that most respondents claim they do not associate either positive or negative feelings (*55.45%* and *72.73%*, respectively) with the use of the navigation functionality of

ities more than the younger segments.

*Use of tourism-related smartphone functionalities.*

the smartphone during travel.

the three tourism functionalities of smartphones.

*Use of tourism-related smartphone functionalities by age group.*

*Tourism-related smartphone functionalities: Feelings and emotions associated with navigation.*

#### **Figure 6.**

*Tourism-related smartphone functionalities: Feelings and emotions associated with Information Search.*

group of respondents who claim to use this functionality the least, negative feelings (*72%*) predominate again. At the second level of use (Learn dest. 2) negative feelings are placed at almost the same level in positions 3 ("almost always", *50%*) and 2 ("sometimes", *55.88%*). Finally, the few respondents who claim to always using this functionality are characterized by an emotional state of indifference, which is greater, if possible, than negative feelings and emotions (*75, 61%*).
