In recent decades, the concept of smart has emerged as a digital solution for city development to ensure a more sustainable and liveable future. Specifically, smart city development calls for leveraging information and communication technologies to enhance public services’ efficiency, citizens’ well-being, sustainability, and economic development.
The concept of smart technology has been widely applied to all aspects of city development. Most studies have only explored smart cities and quality of life in isolation. Hence, IFTM scholars, Dr. Vicky Zhaoyu Chen and Dr. Irene Cheng Chu Chan, conducted the study examining Macao, which is currently a tourism destination and a fast-progressing smart city under development, and verified their effects on citizens’ attitudes, perceptions, and support for citizen-centric smart city development (SCD).
In the study, a quantitative approach was taken at the data-collecting stage. A face-to-face survey was conducted with Macao citizens to ensure that they are cooperative and engaged in their responses. Data was collected from September to December 2021 with 658 valid questionnaires retained for analysis. Scholars identified five domains of how smart city development may influence citizens’ quality of life (SCQOL), namely (1) smart environment, which is related to environmental and sustainability issues; (2) smart people, focusing on social welfare and personal development; (3) smart livelihood, which measures an individual’s way of life and community feelings, image and pride; (4) smart economy and economic policy, in relation to the economic impact and government support of SCD; and (5) smart mobility, referring to the city’s public transportation, infrastructure and safety. This study further posits that a citizen-centric approach to SCD may enhance the smart people domain the most. When the citizens believe that SCD enhances their livelihood and mobility, they tend to show greater support towards such initiatives. Besides, this study demonstrates that education level and smart-technology usage intensity are significant predictors of citizens’ support for future SCD.
The study emphasized the interrelationship between SCD and its ultimate goal, quality of life improvement, by identifying the SCQOL domains. Consequently, this study offered a novel interpretation of SCD’s effects at the micro-level, which may serve as a foundation for future research. Therefore, it extends the understanding of citizens’ involvement in urban development by considering their perceptions not only in the planning stage but also in the assessment process. Another theoretical contribution of this study is that it extends existing knowledge on citizen participation by identifying and conceptualizing three different citizen segments based on their perceptions of the SCQOL domains and support toward SCD, including passive, neutral, and enthusiastic supporters.
Macao has a steady influx of domestic tourists from Mainland China due to its government’s implementation of appropriate tourism recovery strategies. It is essential for the city to use smart technologies and solutions for a better management of its resources for both citizens and tourists. The goal of the SCD initiatives can ensure the liveability and social environment of the city, thus increasing Macao’s competitiveness with its industrial partners in terms of technological development, while meeting its citizens’ demands.
Both faculty members gain the respect of IFTM in performing the research. They stay at the forefront of their fields and share their disciplines’ latest developments with students and the public by considering new interpretations and methods, and thereby bring valuable contribution to the Institute.
More info
Dr. Irene Cheng Chu Chan received her bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management from IFTM. Dr. Chan joined the University of Macau where she obtained her master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) and her PhD in Hotel and Tourism Management from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-07-2021-0577
