International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

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Determinants of Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Tourism Corporations: An Empirical Study of Travel Agents Using the UTAUT Model

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Although the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in tourism has grown exponentially, the existing literature is heavily skewed towards a consumer-centric perspective, leaving the determinants of adoption at the firm level underexplored. To address this gap, this study investigates the factors influencing behavioral intention to adopt AI among travel agents in Batam, Indonesia, using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework. A cross-sectoral quantitative survey was conducted with N = 239 respondents across licensed travel agents, and the data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Empirical findings indicate that Effort Expectancy, Performance Expectancy, and Enabling Conditions all have a positive and statistically significant impact on adoption intention. Notably, Enabling Conditions emerged as the most dominant predictor, as AI integration relies on existing underlying infrastructure rather than capital-intensive technology investments. Overall, the model explains 55.0% of the variance in adoption intention (R² = 0.550). Theoretically, this study validates UTAUT in the context of organizational tourism, while practically offering actionable insights for AI developers and travel agency managers to leverage fundamental digital assets for competitive advantage.
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