Near field communication technology in tourism

Technological progress and tourism have been gone hand in hand for years. The use of mobile devices such as smart phones and tablet computers has increased at a phenomenal rate in recent years. With the increase in the number of mobile devices more and more devices will be supporting Near-Field Communication (NFC), which is a short range and wireless technology for data transfer without physical touch. NFC technology will open up new opportunities for various stakeholders in tourism from destination level to tourism researchers. In this article earlier research on NFC technology is reviewed and categorized into four different topics: business models and ecosystems, software and applications, security and hardware, and threats and issues. Current and potential applications of NFC in tourism are also reviewed using existing case studies. Also managerial contributions of the study are presented.

► We examine the possibilities of near field communication technology for tourism.
► Earlier literature is reviewed. Examples of NFC usage in tourism industry are examined.
► There is a lack of research in tourism on NFC.
► NFC creates great possibilities both for tourism researchers and practitioners.
► A breakthrough device is required for NFC to reach its full potential.