The effect of hard infrastructure on perceived destination competitiveness: The moderating impact of mobile technology

Hard infrastructure plays a crucial role in determining perceived destination competitiveness, with mobile technology adoption enhancing visitor experiences. In light of Malaysia’s declining destination competitiveness ranking and poor infrastructure development in Sarawak, this study explores the impact of hard infrastructure on perceived destination competitiveness, as well as the moderating effect of mobile technology. A total of 190 valid responses were collected and analyzed using the PLS-SEM approach. The findings indicate that transportation and accommodation infrastructure significantly influence perceived destination competitiveness. Furthermore, telecommunication infrastructures relationship with destination competitiveness is moderated by mobile technology. This research provides empirical insights on how infrastructure and mobile technology can improve tourism competitiveness, benefiting both scholars and industry practitioners.