Mobile technologies are evident in all sectors, and this is also a reality in tourism. Tourists are increasingly using their smartphones for different functions and purposes, from planning trips to browsing destinations. Mobile technology is also an ally in outdoor activities. Thus, this study sought to understand, through a systematic review, how mobile technologies are being approached in outdoor tourism literature. The analysis was conducted with twenty-four articles indexed in the Web of Science and published in the last five years (2018–2022). The first finding is the small number of specific articles on outdoor tourism, even when adding the terms nature-based or adventure tourism. The main reasons why outdoor tourists use mobile technology during their activities are communication, navigation, feeling safe, boredom relief, and taking photos Thus, there is a need for more research to better understand the benefits and risks of the use of mobile technology in outdoor activities and most of the analysed articles presented a quantitative approach.
This project is being carried out within the scope of the TURNOUT Project Development of Outdoor Tourism of Northern Portugal, POCI-01-0145-ERDF-032289, financed by the European Investment Fund Regional Development (FEDER) through the Operational Program of Competitiveness and Innovation (POCI) and the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (OE). UNIAG, R&D unit funded by the FCT—Portuguese Foundation for the Development of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education; “Project Code Reference: UIDB/04752/2020”.
