Extended Abstract

Introduction

In the era of digital transformation, technology plays an increasingly prominent role in enhancing the tourism experience and achieving sustainable development. Eco-lodges, as key pillars of sustainable tourism, not only contribute to the preservation and promotion of local culture and environmental protection, but also have the potential to improve service quality and boost tourist satisfaction and loyalty through the adoption of modern technologies. Nevertheless, the extent of smart technology integration in these lodges—and its impact on tourist behavior—particularly in the tourism-rich provinces of Mazandaran and Isfahan, has yet to be comprehensively examined. Previous studies have primarily focused on large-scale technologies within the domain of smart tourism, while paying limited attention to eco-lodges—accommodation types that, due to their distinct cultural, environmental, and structural characteristics, require more specialized and localized approaches. Moreover, the lack of accurate and up-to-date data regarding the impact of smart technologies on tourist loyalty has hindered policymakers and lodge managers from making effective, evidence-based decisions. Accordingly, conducting a comprehensive study within the provinces of Mazandaran and Isfahan—one that identifies key indicators of smart technology integration and analyzes its impact on tourist behavior and loyalty—is deemed essential. Such research, grounded in scientific methodology and field data, can significantly contribute to enhancing the performance of eco-lodges, improving service quality, increasing tourist satisfaction and repeat visitation, and ultimately fostering sustainable tourism development in these regions.



Methodology

This study adopts a descriptive–analytical and in-depth research approach, based on the analysis of survey data. The data were collected using a researcher-designed questionnaire tailored to the objectives of the study. The data analysis method is quantitative and relies on appropriate statistical tests. The statistical population consists of tourists who have stayed at eco-lodges in the provinces of Isfahan and Mazandaran. Since the exact size of the population was unknown, the accessible sampling method was employed to determine the sample size. Over a two-month period, a total of 163 accessible tourists were surveyed. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed through expert review, and its reliability was verified using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, which exceeded 0.70—indicating acceptable internal consistency. Ultimately, the collected data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. The analysis was conducted through suitable statistical tests, including the binomial test, regression analysis, and the Mann–Whitney U test.



Results and discussion

In this section, the findings of the present study are comparable to those in previous research—particularly studies by Aziz et al. (2020), Ng et al. (2023), and Jung & Shin (2020)—which demonstrated that smart technologies, when designed in alignment with tourist needs, positively influence loyalty. The results also align with the perspectives of Asgarpour et al. (2015) and Mimandi et al. (2023), who warned that technological complexity or misalignment can lead to adverse outcomes. This highlights that simply adding innovative technologies, without considering ease of use, cultural relevance, and actual tourist needs, cannot guarantee success in attracting and retaining customers. A positive tourist experience and the development of a sense of belonging are shaped through human interactions, local storytelling, and coherent smart services. What is evident in this study is that tourist loyalty is not solely dependent on the presence of technology, but rather rooted in the emotional connection formed through the integration of technological infrastructure with the environmental and cultural experience of the destination. In this regard, studies by Molavi & Bastanegar (2024) and Qiu et al. (2025) have also emphasized the combined role of technology and cultural experience in fostering tourist loyalty. In fact, the findings of this research not only confirm prior studies but also extend and contextualize them, showing that the impact of technology is not merely technical—it is situational and cultural. Therefore, smart transformation can be effective when it serves meaning, tranquility, and a distinctive experience; otherwise, it may even have counterproductive effects. The comparison between eco-lodges in the two studied provinces further revealed that despite a relatively similar level of smart technology implementation, tourist loyalty was higher in one region. This underscores that the key factor in fostering loyalty is not merely the technical sophistication of the technologies, but rather the quality of interactions, environmental integration, service coherence, and the creation of a pleasant and unique experience. This finding is consistent with the work of Nawaz & Iqbal (2025) and Yaghmour (2024), who identified positive experiences and repeat visits as being influenced more by soft and environmental factors than by technical infrastructure alone.



Conclusion

With the growing adoption of modern technologies in the tourism industry, eco-lodges—recognized as a key component of sustainable tourism—are increasingly moving toward smart transformation. In this context, examining the impact of smart technologies on tourist loyalty is of particular importance, as it directly contributes to destination revisit intention and word-of-mouth promotion. The aim of this study is to analyze the extent to which smart technology indicators have been implemented in eco-lodges and to explain their role in enhancing tourist loyalty.The findings of this research indicate that smart technologies have played a significant role in improving the quality of the tourism experience; however, this impact has not been uniformly realized across all dimensions. Tourists responded positively to certain technological services such as internet access, smart security systems, and online booking capabilities. In contrast, more advanced technologies—such as augmented reality and smart guides—did not yield the expected levels of satisfaction or loyalty. Despite efforts to collect reliable data, the present study faced several limitations. The research was confined to two provinces—Mazandaran and Isfahan—which restricts the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, the use of self-reported questionnaires may have been influenced by the subjective judgments of respondents. Other influential factors, such as individual characteristics of tourists, their familiarity with technology, and cultural differences across regions, were not independently examined.



Funding

There is no funding support.



Authors’ Contribution

Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.



Conflict of Interest

Authors declared no conflict of interest.