SSCI Paper Demonstrates Real-world Gamification's Impact on Tourism Promotion

Realworld's innovative gamified tourism content has finally proven its effectiveness through recognition from the global academic community, opening new horizons for regional tourism revitalization. The in-depth research paper 'Can Gamification and Augmented Reality (AR) Revitalize Declining Destinations?' by Professor Hak-Seung Shin's research team at Hanyang University achieved the remarkable feat of being published in the April 2025 issue of the 'Journal of Travel Research,' the most prestigious academic journal in the travel and tourism field. This is a top-tier journal with an SSCI Q1 ranking and an impact factor of 8.0, and it is regarded as a significant event that academically solidifies Realworld content's contribution to regional revitalization. Professor Hak-Seung Shin's team, recognized by Stanford University as "world's top 2% researchers," meticulously analyzed Realworld's representative content, developed in collaboration with cities like Gangneung and Wonju. Based on a three-component attitude model, the research scientifically revealed that gamification significantly enhances tourists' place attachment and destination knowledge, and further positively influences their intention to revisit the region. This conclusion, derived from online and on-site surveys, clearly demonstrates that Realworld goes beyond mere entertainment to create tangible effects in regional economic revitalization. With the excellent effectiveness of Realworld content proven through this study, the likelihood of Realworld-style gamification being introduced to various tourist attractions nationwide has significantly increased. Song In-hyuk, CEO of Realworld, expressed his ambition, stating, "We will further broaden our positive ripple effect on regions and spaces." Attention is drawn to Realworld's ongoing expansion, as it recently opened new multi-cultural spaces in major hubs across the country, including Gwangju, Seongsu, and Konkuk University areas, thereby extending its influence.