Abstract
This study investigates how users perceive augmented reality (AR) features in mobile tourism applications and examines how demographic characteristics, tourist status and prior technological experience influence expected interaction with such applications. The research was conducted among local residents, domestic tourists and international tourists interested in visiting the Abai Region (Kazakhstan), using survey data collected after a prototype-testing session. The findings indicate that gender differences influence perceptions of aesthetics, usability and hedonic experience, while AR presence emerges as the strongest predictor of overall user engagement. Tourist status was associated with variations in perceived usefulness and social interaction, whereas prior experience with tourism applications affected perceptions of AR presence and ease of use. In contrast, experience with AR in other domains did not demonstrate a significant effect. The findings contribute to understanding user expectations toward AR-based tourism applications in regions with limited digital infrastructure and provide implications for user-centred digital tourism development.