A Comparative Study of Visual Culture in Tourism Apps
Authors: Zheng Zhiyuan , Hu Xin 
Published: November 2024

With the rapid advancement of mobile internet technology, tourism applications have become a crucial means for tourists to explore and learn about tourist attractions. This paper focuses on the use of visual culture in tourism apps, aiming to explore the employment and categorization of visual culture in the design of excellent tourism applications. By comparing two applications—"Forbidden City 365" and "Great Wall 24 Hours"—this study analyzes how visual culture is presented on digital platforms and promoted based on the features of the respective tourist attractions.The Forbidden City and the Great Wall, as represented by the "Forbidden City 365" and "Great Wall 24 Hours" apps, are both World Cultural Heritage sites with rich cultural connotations and distinctive features. Their visual culture is highly representative, making these two tourism apps ideal subjects for comparative analysis in this research. By examining the design elements, images, color schemes, symbols, and cultural significances in both apps, this paper provides a comprehensive evaluation of the use of visual culture. Analysis of the main pages includes investigating the frequency of design elements, colors, images, and cultural symbols used, alongside collecting user feedback from app store reviews to understand user responses and experiences with the app designs.By comparing the design concepts, cultural conveyance, and user experiences of "Forbidden City 365" and "Great Wall 24 Hours," this study explores the differences in design elements, color schemes, cultural symbols, and user feedback dimensions. It reveals how visual culture influences user experience and perception in these apps.Results indicate that visual culture plays a significant role in user interaction with applications and their understanding of tourist attractions. These visual cultures are not merely decorative but serve as carriers of cultural meaning and identity, enriching the user experience by providing deeper cultural insights. This suggests that the effective use of visual culture can significantly enhance the informational and emotional appeal of tourism applications.Additionally, this study emphasizes the importance of selecting appropriate visual cultures corresponding to the tourist attractions when designing tourism apps. By reflecting the unique cultural characteristics of the sites, app designers can create more attractive and meaningful user experiences. The comparative analysis offers valuable insights into how different cultural narratives are visually presented, providing a framework for future research in this field.To summarize, this paper highlights the potential of visual culture in enhancing the communication and aesthetic quality of tourism applications. As mobile technology continues to advance, the integration of these symbols into app design will become increasingly important in promoting cultural tourism. This research offers practical recommendations for app designers and developers to create more immersive and culturally resonant tourism experiences. By focusing on the expression of the unique visual culture of tourist attractions, tourism apps can serve not only as informational tools but also as gateways to deeper cultural appreciation and understanding.