ABSTRACT
In recent decades, information and communication technologies (ICTs) have enhanced the quality of human lives via urban services to assist in transforming a ‘super’ city into a ‘smart’ city. The increase in smart city initiatives around the world is part of a strategic response by governments to address existing challenges. ICTs offer an ideal platform to reduce costs and resource consumption. The use of ICTs in all sectors of the economy will increase information awareness and contribute to the use of smart applications in many aspects of our lives. The intensive use of ICTs will encourage citizens to build and implement smartphone applications as an important aspect of ICT investments.
The main objective of this research study is to investigate investment opportunities for building smartphone applications for Abha City as a tourist city. The sample data were collected from 282 students at the Faculty of Business at King Khalid University in Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The eight survey questions were asked in order to ascertain participants’ points of view regarding the investment opportunities for building smartphone applications for tourist cities in Abha City. The study encourages Abha City governmental and private authorities to embrace smart application projects in order to help people and tourists to use service facilities offered by the government and private sectors. The research identifies the investment opportunities and highlights the obstacles that may hinder the implementation of smart applications used by citizens and tourists in the city of Abha. The research introduces some comparisons with similar practices. The study concludes with some appropriate suggestions, benefits, and challenges regarding the investment opportunities for building smart applications for Abha City as a tourist city.
