Enhancing Tourist Experiences in Helsinki through the Development of a Gamified Mobile Application: A Product Development
Kumcu, Celal (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025112830577
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025112830577
Tiivistelmä
In today’s experience-driven economy, travellers increasingly seek active participation rather than passive observation. Trends such as transformative tourism, digitalisation and gamification influence how tourists engage with destinations, but current mobile applications often fail to address these expectations. While the concept has global relevance, this product-based thesis focuses on Helsinki as a case destination and aims to develop a gamified mobile application concept that enhances diverse tourist experiences. The study examines how gamification principles can be integrated into the application and evaluates the prototype’s potential to promote deeper engagement and interaction with the destination.
The thesis employs a theoretical framework that combines tourist experience, transformative tourism and gamification principles. These frameworks are utilised to guide the design of the mobile application concept by connecting experiential value to the motivational principles of gamification. The prototype is developed to visually communicate the core mechanics of the concept.
The product development process follows the Double Diamond model. The methodology incor-porates a qualitative research approach with data collection conducted in November 2025 (week 46). The study involved five participants: international tourists staying in a hostel in Helsinki, a tourism specialist from Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences and IT specialist recruited from the author’s network. Usability testing lasted 30-50 minutes and combined prototype observation with a think-aloud protocol and semi-structured interviews. The evaluation focused on assessing usability, engagement and the prototype’s potential to enhance the tourist experience. The collected data were analysed by identifying patterns, differences and implications for further development.
The findings indicate an overall positive response to the gamified mobile application concept, driven by its perceived ability to make exploration more purposeful and enjoyable, highlight local recommendations and simplify trip planning. Despite limited functionality, the prototype demonstrates strong potential for further development, supporting meaningful and immersive tourist experiences aligned with modern travel behaviour.
The thesis employs a theoretical framework that combines tourist experience, transformative tourism and gamification principles. These frameworks are utilised to guide the design of the mobile application concept by connecting experiential value to the motivational principles of gamification. The prototype is developed to visually communicate the core mechanics of the concept.
The product development process follows the Double Diamond model. The methodology incor-porates a qualitative research approach with data collection conducted in November 2025 (week 46). The study involved five participants: international tourists staying in a hostel in Helsinki, a tourism specialist from Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences and IT specialist recruited from the author’s network. Usability testing lasted 30-50 minutes and combined prototype observation with a think-aloud protocol and semi-structured interviews. The evaluation focused on assessing usability, engagement and the prototype’s potential to enhance the tourist experience. The collected data were analysed by identifying patterns, differences and implications for further development.
The findings indicate an overall positive response to the gamified mobile application concept, driven by its perceived ability to make exploration more purposeful and enjoyable, highlight local recommendations and simplify trip planning. Despite limited functionality, the prototype demonstrates strong potential for further development, supporting meaningful and immersive tourist experiences aligned with modern travel behaviour.