What influences elderly tourists’ acceptance of autonomous sightseeing vehicles in scenic areas? A mixed-methods study

Abstract Traditional modes of tourism have undergone a profound transformation with the advancement of technology, and the emergence of autonomous driving technology offers unprecedented possibilities for enhancing the travel experiences of tourists, especially for elderly tourists. This study aimed to explore the factors influencing elderly tourists’ acceptance of autonomous sightseeing vehicles in scenic areas, using a mixed-methods approach that integrated in-depth interviews, grounded theory coding, structural equation modeling, and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The findings revealed 7 key factors—trust, performance expectancy, closed-mindedness, tourism fatigue, and unusual environments—that significantly impact acceptance. Trust emerged as a critical and consistent factor across all configurations, while performance expectancy and context-specific variables, such as tourism fatigue and unusual environments, exhibited varying effects. In contrast, closed-mindedness exhibits a significant negative effect, while social influence and prior knowledge show more complex effects. Additionally, fsQCA analysis uncovers three distinct paths leading to high levels of acceptance. These insights provide a robust theoretical foundation for improving elderly tourists’ acceptance of autonomous sightseeing vehicles in scenic areas.