Purpose: In contemporary times, augmented reality is a cornerstone technology within the tourism sector. Nonetheless, the inclination towards embracing and utilizing augmented reality applications in tourism hinges upon multifaceted determinants, meriting examination through the integrated lens of technology acceptance and use theory. Concurrently, these determinants sway individuals' hedonistic motivations to engage with such apps. This juncture holds significance for managerial considerations, delineating pivotal factors influencing the adoption of this technology. Hence, this present inquiry explores the nexus between the technology acceptance and use theory and the hedonistic motivations for tourism augmented reality apps on mobile platforms within the Iranian context.Method: The current research's statistical population consists of users of tourism augmented reality apps. The sample size is 201 users. The data collection tool is a questionnaire. A structural equation test was used to analyze the data.Findings: The research findings indicate that four factors, namely performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions, have a positive and significant impact on the hedonic motivation to use tourism augmented reality apps. Moreover, all four factors of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) positively influenced the intention to use augmented reality applications on mobile phones. Additionally, hedonic motivation was shown to positively and significantly affect the intention to use tourism augmented reality apps on mobile phones. Notably, hedonic motivation is a crucial mediator between the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) dimensions and the intention to use augmented reality applications. However, the mediating role of hedonic motivation was not supported for performance expectancy and behavioral intention.Conclusion: This research investigates the factors influencing the motivation to use augmented reality (AR) apps in tourism. It finds that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions positively impact hedonic motivation for AR app usage. The study validates the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) for predicting AR app adoption. Notably, hedonic motivation mediates between UTAUT dimensions and intention to use AR technology, suggesting implications for enhancing AR app design in the tourism sector.
