BEYOND DIGITAL ACCESS: THE ROLES OF DIGITAL LITERACY AND PARTICIPATION IN PERCEIVED DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE READINESS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/JISTM.1144018Keywords:
Digital Infrastructure Readiness, Digital Literacy, Digital Participation, Technology Readiness Index (TRI), People-Centred DigitalisationAbstract
Digital transformation has become an integral part of regional socio-economic development; however, mere physical presence of digital infrastructure does not necessarily guarantee any substantial engagement with digital technologies. Utilizing the Technology Readiness Index (TRI) framework as the theoretical approach, this study assesses the impact of Digital Literacy, Digital Access, and Digital Participation/Learnability on Perceived Digital Infrastructure Readiness in Langkawi, Malaysia – popular international tourist attraction and emerging digital destination. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design with a quota sample was used for data collection. The data was collected from 248 adults, out of which 238 completed responses were included in the analysis after the process of data screening. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression were used for data analysis. Results suggest that all the three predictors show positive and statistically significant relationship with Perceived Digital Infrastructure Readiness in bivariate correlations. However, the multiple linear regression shows that Digital Participation/Learnability is the most significant predictor ( β = 0.439, p< 0.001), followed by Digital Literacy ( β = 0.328, p<0.004), while Digital Access did not have any significant independent impact ( β = 0.205, p = 0.056). It means that the perceptions about infrastructure readiness do not only depend on whether there is connectivity or equipment but also on individual capabilities to make use of and interact with technology. The main contribution of this paper is the development of an approach to digital readiness which is focused on people rather than on infrastructure. The implication from the results of the research for practice is that the regional digital strategy in touristic destinations should take into account both hardware and digital literacy factors.
Downloads
References
Arnaud, J., São Mamede, H., & Branco, F. (2024). The relationship between digital transformation and digital literacy - an explanatory model: Systematic literature review. F1000Research, 13, 253. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.146991.1
Attour, A., & Chauvet, M. (2020). Upgrading digital infrastructure is not enough: Understanding the gap between technology availability and adoption in smart cities. Journal of Urban Technology, 27(4), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.1080/10630732.2020.1784531
Aziz, A., & Hossain, T. (2024). Digital access, resources, and literacy: Mapping the digital divide and ICT learning challenges. Asiascape: Digital Asia, 11(3), 246–267.
Ben Ghrbeia, S., & Alzubi, A. (2024). Building micro-foundations for digital transformation: A moderated mediation model of the interplay between digital literacy and digital transformation. Sustainability, 16(9), 3749. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093749
Buhalis, D., & Amaranggana, A. (2013). Smart tourism destinations. In Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2014 (pp. 553–564). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03973-2_40
Chikomba, A., Goulding, A., Sanderson, L., Sylvester, A., & Campbell-Meier, J. (2023). Methods and (lack of) theory in digital inclusion, digital divide, and digital equity research on older adults. Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences. https://doi.org/10.24251/hicss.2023.234
Chinoracky, R., Stalmasekova, N., Madlenak, R., & Madlenakova, L. (2025). Are nations ready for digital transformation? A macroeconomic perspective through the lens of education quality. Economies, 13(6), 152. https://doi.org/10.3390/economies13060152
Cimbaljević, M., Demirović Bajrami, D., Kovačić, S., Pavluković, V., Stankov, U., & Vujičić, M. (2024). Employees’ technology adoption in the context of smart tourism development: The role of technological acceptance and technological readiness. European Journal of Innovation Management, 27(8), 2457–2482. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-09-2022-0516
Coronel Padilla, M. F., & Smith, M. K. (2023). Technology acceptance and readiness among different generations of urban tourists. Marketing & Menedzsment The Hungarian Journal of Marketing and Management, 57(1), 37–48. https://doi.org/10.15170/MM.2023.57.01.04
Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319–340.
Godoe, P., & Johansen, T. S. (2012). Understanding adoption of new technologies: Technology readiness and technology acceptance as an integrated model. Journal of European Psychology Students, 3(1), 38–52. https://doi.org/10.5334/jeps.aq
Hargittai, E. (2002). Second-level digital divide: Differences in people's online skills. First Monday, 7(4). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v7i4.942
Hussain, N., & Phulpoto, S. (2024). Digital literacy: Empowering individuals in the digital age. Assyfa Learning Journal, 2(2), 70–83. https://doi.org/10.61650/alj.v2i2.231
Johnson, R. D., & Marakas, G. M. (2000). Research report: The role of behavioral modeling in computer skills acquisition: Toward refinement of the model. Information Systems Research, 11(4), 402–417. https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.11.4.402.11869
Khan, M., et al. (2025). AI infused business model innovation for competitive advantage in the era of big data and digital transformation. Open Access Journal of Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, 4(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.23880/oajda-16000165
Kim, T. G., & Chiu, W. (2019). Understanding travelers’ behavior for sustainable smart tourism: A technology readiness perspective. Sustainability, 10(11), 4259. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10114259
Lutz, C. (2019). Digital inequalities in the age of algorithmic systems: An updated framework. New Media & Society, 21(5), 1140–1148. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444818811361
Meuter, M. L., Ostrom, A. L., Bitner, M. J., & Roundtree, R. (2003). The influence of technology anxiety on consumer use and experiences with self-service technologies. Journal of Business Research, 56(11), 899–906. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0148-2963(01)00276-4
Mior Shariffuddin, N. S., Azinuddin, M., Yahya, N. E., & Hanafiah, M. H. (2023). Navigating the tourism digital landscape: The interrelationship of online travel sites’ affordances, technology readiness, online purchase intentions, trust, and E-loyalty. Heliyon, 9(9), e19135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19135
Nchise, A. C. (2020). ICTs and digital economy in developing countries: A review of the literature on digital ecosystem and governance. Journal of Global Information Technology Management, 23(4), 284–305. https://doi.org/10.1080/1097198X.2020.1834927
Neuhofer, B., Buhalis, D., & Ladkin, A. (2014). Co-creation through technology: Dimensions of social media co-creation in the travel experience. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/56901
Parasuraman, A. (2000). Technology Readiness Index (TRI): A multiple-item scale to measure readiness to embrace new technologies. Journal of Service Research, 2(4), 307–320. https://doi.org/10.1177/109467050024001
Parasuraman, A., & Colby, C. L. (2015). An updated and streamlined technology readiness index: TRI 2.0. Journal of Service Research, 18(1), 59–74. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094670514539730
Pukdeewut, A. (2024). Bridging the third-level digital divide. FWU Journal of Social Sciences, 18(4), 19–39. http://doi.org/10.51709/19951272/Winter2024/2
Shachak, A., Ishai, R., & Reis, S. (2019). Learnability of health information technology: A systematic review and conceptual framework. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 129, 198–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2019.06.012
Sharif, M. H. M., Ahmad, N., & Isa, M. M. (2021). A case study on digital divide and access to information communication technologies (ICTs) in Pulau Tuba, Langkawi, Malaysia. Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education (TURCOMAT), 12(5), 1432–1441.
Silva, G. M., Dias, Á., & Rodrigues, M. S. (2022). Continuity of use of food delivery apps: An integrated approach to the health belief model and the technology readiness and acceptance model. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 8(3), 114. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc8030114
Suhaety, Y., & Mansyuri, M. I. (2026). Assessing the digital readiness of tourism actors in Dompu Regency for artificial intelligence–based marketing transformation. Indonesian Interdisciplinary Journal of Sharia Economics (IIJSE), 9(1), 8521–8529.
Sujood, Bano, N., & Siddiqui, S. (2022). Consumers’ intention towards the use of smart technologies in tourism and hospitality (T&H) industry: A deeper insight into the integration of TAM, TPB and trust. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTI-06-2022-0267
Uren, V., & Edwards, J. S. (2023). Technology readiness and the organizational journey towards AI adoption: An empirical study. International Journal of Information Management, 68, 102588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2022.102588
van Deursen, A. J., & van Dijk, J. A. (2013). The digital divide shifts to differences in usage. New Media & Society, 16(3), 507–526. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444813487959
van Deursen, A. J. A. M., & van Dijk, J. A. G. M. (2015). Toward a multifaceted model of internet access for understanding digital divides: An empirical investigation. The Information Society, 31(5), 379–391. https://doi.org/10.1080/01972243.2015.1069770
van Deursen, A. J. A. M., & van Dijk, J. A. G. M. (2018). The first-level digital divide shifts from inequalities in physical access to inequalities in material access. New Media & Society, 21(2), 354–375. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444818797082
Venkatesh, V., Morris, M. G., Davis, G. B., & Davis, F. D. (2003). User acceptance of information technology: Toward a unified view. MIS Quarterly, 27(3), 425–478.
Warschauer, M. (2003). Technology and social inclusion: Rethinking the digital divide. MIT Press.
Yahya, N. E., Mior Shariffuddin, N. S., Azinuddin, M., Mat Som, A. P., & Hanafiah, M. H. (2026). Digital encounters and tourist decisions: Linking smart technologies, readiness, and travel motivations. Quality & Quantity. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-026-02570-y
Yusof, Y., Amirah, N. A., Haron, N. F., Mustafa, W. A., Zin, Z. M., Jusoh, M. Y. F., & Dhavaleshwar, C. (2026). Community readiness towards digitalization: A comprehensive review. Journal of Advanced Research in Applied Sciences and Engineering Technology, 56(1), 157–179. https://doi.org/10.37934/araset.56.1.157179
Zhang, J. (2025). Two digital divides and income inequality: A global perspective. Review of Development Economics. http://doi.org/10.1080/15140326.2025.2568247
Zhang, Q., Khan, S., Khan, S. U., Khan, I. U., & Mehmood, S. (2024). Tourist motivations to adopt sustainable smart hospitality: An innovation resistance theory perspective. Sustainability, 16(13), 5598. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135
