1. Full name of PhD student: Nguyen Viet Hoang 2. Gender: Male
3. Date of birth: January 27, 1985 4. Place of birth: Thanh Hoa
5. Decision on recognition of PhD students: Decision 1806/QD-XHNV dated June 29, 2018 of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
6. Changes in training process (if any): Extension of research period to June 29, 2023.
7. Thesis topic: Travel trends of Generation Z in Vietnam (Research on the trend of using mobile applications in tourism).
8. Major: Tourism 9. Code: 981010.01
10. Scientific advisor: Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Pham Hung
11. Summary of new results of the thesis:
- Research purpose: The study was conducted to examine the influence of personality traits of Generation Z on the intention to use mobile applications in tourism, abbreviated as TMAs (tourists mobile applications) by applying the technology acceptance and usage model (TRAM) previously proposed by Lin et al. (2007); thereby providing managerial implications to contribute to the improvement of TMAs, while aiming towards the development of smart tourism, enhancing the ability to attract and satisfy the needs of Generation Z tourists in the era of Industry 4.0 through empirical research on the behaviors and experiences of TMAs of this potential tourist market.
- Research object: Trends in using mobile applications in tourism of generation Z tourists in Vietnam.
- Research methods used
To complete the research objectives, the topic is carried out by an interdisciplinary approach of tourism - sociology - psychology - economics - business administration - marketing simultaneously to discover the basic issues of the research content. The main research methods applied include the method of biometric analysis and content analysis, group interview method, expert method, and questionnaire survey method. In addition, the research hypotheses are verified by the method of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The research process is carried out in 02 phases, including the exploratory research phase and the experimental research phase.
- Key results
+ The thesis has inherited and developed variables measuring factors affecting the intention to use TMAs of Generation Z in Vietnam, including 43 components, divided into 9 groups: Optimism (6 components), innovation (5 components), discomfort (5 components), insecurity (5 components), perceived usefulness (5 components), perceived ease of use (5 components), trust (4 components), habits (4 components), intention to use (4 components).
+ The thesis has researched and synthesized the theoretical system and theoretical basis of tourism trends, generation Z and generation Z in Vietnam, mobile applications for tourists; thereby identifying topic groups and research gaps related to this topic.
+ Based on the research process proposed by Lin, Shih and Sher (2017), the thesis inherited and developed a variable measuring factors affecting the intention to use TMAs of Generation Z in Vietnam, including 43 components, divided into 9 groups: Optimism (6 components), innovation (5 components), discomfort (5 components), insecurity (5 components), perceived usefulness (5 components), perceived ease of use (5 components), trust (4 components), habits (4 components), intention to use (4 components).
+ The thesis has empirically evaluated the behavioral characteristics of Generation Z in Vietnam related to the trend of using mobile applications for tourists.
+ The thesis has verified the relationship between factors belonging to TRI (technology readiness index), TAM (technology acceptance) and technology usage intention of Generation Z in Vietnam. Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and habit are factors that directly affect the technology usage intention of Generation Z in Vietnam; meanwhile, characteristics related to TRI have no influence.
- New contributions of the thesis
+ In theory:
Firstly, this is one of the first studies in Vietnam to analyze the characteristics of Generation Z tourists and analyze the trend of using mobile applications in tourism of Generation Z in Vietnam.
Second, based on the research process proposed by Lin, Shih and Sher (2017), the thesis builds and develops variables measuring factors affecting the intention to use TMAs of Generation Z in Vietnam, including 43 measurement variables divided into 9 groups: Optimism, innovation, discomfort, insecurity, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, trust, habit, intention to use.
Third, the thesis applies the extended TRAM model to test the readiness and acceptance of using mobile applications for tourists of Generation Z in Vietnam. Combining two models to build the TRAM model is a new approach that has not been widely applied in the tourism sector; in addition, the study adds two new factors, "Trust" and "Technology usage habits", contributing to clarifying the personality characteristics of Generation Z in Vietnam as a generation of explorers who love creativity. In particular, the motivational-morphological perspective (also known as the historical-perspective theory) proposed by Nguyen Pham Hung (2020) is applied to explain the characteristics in the trend of using mobile applications in tourism of Generation Z in Vietnam.
+ Practical significance:
Firstly, the thesis empirically evaluated the behavioral characteristics of Generation Z in Vietnam related to the use of mobile applications in tourism; thereby identifying factors affecting the intention to use mobile applications for tourists of Generation Z in Vietnam, contributing to helping tourism businesses, destinations, and state tourism management agencies have a comprehensive view of the Generation Z tourist market.
Second, the thesis proposes management implications for state tourism management agencies, tourist destinations and tourism businesses; thereby contributing to promoting Vietnam's tourism industry to become a comprehensive "smart" tourism environment, anticipating potential customer markets such as Gen Z.
- Conclude
+ In the current context, there are many emerging tourism trends; one of the most prominent tourism trends of Generation Z in Vietnam is the trend of using mobile applications for tourists (TMAs). These applications play an important role in enhancing “smart” experiences, providing “smart” and convenient tourism services and utilities for tourists; co-creating the value of tourism products and services for tourism businesses and tourist destinations.
+ Generation Z is a generation full of potential with different personalities compared to other generations. Their technology usage habits, daily life habits and their perceptions of the usefulness and ease of use of TMAs play a very important role in perpetuating this trend, forcing state management agencies, tourism businesses and tourist destinations to truly understand and regularly update to best meet their needs because more than any other generation, they are optimistic, love innovation and creativity; they are very sensitive and always concerned about risks and incidents that may occur.
+ Barriers affecting Gen Z's willingness and acceptance to use TMAs include: trust, perceived usefulness, users' own insecurities, quality of telecommunications infrastructure, ease of use of applications, quality of information provided on applications that do not meet users' expectations, too many applications of the same type appearing on the market causing information confusion for users... In particular, applications managed by state agencies are assessed as monotonous applications, lacking innovation, unattractive information...
+ The application of the TRAM model contributes to testing the relationship between technology readiness and acceptance on the intention to use TMAs of Generation Z in Vietnam. This result is the basis for the thesis to provide management implications for state management agencies on tourism, tourist destinations and tourism businesses; contributing to promoting the Vietnamese tourism industry to become a comprehensive "smart" tourism environment, anticipating potential tourist customer markets such as Gen Z in Vietnam.
12. Further research directions:
Other prominent travel trends of Generation Z in Vietnam; characteristics of mobile application usage behavior of Generation Z in Vietnam compared to other customer groups of other generations in the country and abroad; differences in TMAs usage behavior of Generation Z in different provinces, cities, and regions...
13. Publications related to the thesis:
(1). Nguyen Viet Hoang, Nguyen Thi Loan, Nguyen Pham Hung (2023), “Generation Z’s behavior in using mobile applications in tourism: Survey results in Vietnam”, Journal of Financial and Accounting Research, Issue 1, April (237), pp. 51-57.
(2). Nguyen Thi Loan, Nguyen Viet Hoang (2023), “Gen Z's travel trend and behavior: A systematic literture review”, Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Studies Vol. 6 (4), pp. 1511-1519,
http://dx.doi.org/10.47191/jefms/v6-i4-13.
(3). Nguyen Viet Hoang, Nguyen Pham Hung (2021), “Demand trends in HORECA services during Covid-19 pandemic: An investigation of Gen Z customers in Vietnam”, Proceeding of the International Conference TED-2021 (August 2021), Communication and Information Publishing House, pp.27-37.
(4). Nguyen Viet Hoang, Truong Thi Xuan Dao, Pham Huong Trang, Tran Duc Thanh, Nguyen Pham Hung (2021), “Travel Intention to Visit Tourism Destinations: A Perspective of Generation Z in Vietnam, Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business Vol. 8 (2), pp. 1043-1053, doi:10.13106/jafeb.2021.vol8.no2.1043.
(5). Nguyen Viet Hoang, Nguyen Thi Hong (2019), "Travel needs of Generation Z in Thanh Hoa city", Vietnam Tourism Magazine (7), pp. 54-56.
(6). Nguyen Viet Hoang, Pham Hong Long (2019), “Industrial Revolution 4.0, changes, opportunities and challenges for Vietnam's tourism industry”, Proceedings of the National Scientific Conference: Training tourism human resources in the period of industrial revolution 4.0 (Khanh Hoa University and Vietnam Tourism Training Association), Literature Publishing House, Hanoi, pp. 181-187.
