A STUDY OF DESIGNING PROCESS FOR TOURISM SUPPORT MOBILE APPLICATION APPLYING PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS

Atsushi Ito, Rina Hayashi, Yuko Hiramatsu, Akira Sasaki

Abstract: In this paper, we propose a design process of mobile phone application for the sightseeing in Oku-Nikko that is famous for beautiful nature. To make this application useful, we introduced two psychological effects. Firstly, we listed up required elements of sightseeing and categorized into 10 categories. Then we added priority to them based on Maslows hierarchy of needs. At last, we added priority to functions of a mobile phone application based on the mapping of elements of sightseeing and Maslows hierarchy of needs. Baes on this analysis, we designed our sightseeing application for Oku-Nikko. For example, all higher priority function (Level 1 and 2 of Maslows hierarchy) are accessible from home screen and some of them are in the tab bar to be accessible from all screen. We added photo book of seasons on the home screen to use Zeigarnik Effect to encourage visitors to visit Oku-Nikko again in the different seasons. Also, we expect that photo books of nature (mountain, flower, bird) may cause a similar effect.This application will start to use from May 2018, as part of the Project to Fully Enjoy National Parks project promoted by The Ministry of the Environment.

Keywords: Tourism support application, BLEBeacon, Psychology of sightseeing, Zeigarnik Effect, Maslows hierarchy of needs

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2018.0707008