The roles of social media in tourists’ choices of travel components

Social media are acknowledged as an important information source that influences tourists’ travel choices. However, qualitative studies that take an inductive approach to identify the roles of social media by investigating how social media affect travel choices are limited. By interviewing 21 touris...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tourist studies 2020-03, Vol.20 (1), p.27-48
Main Authors: Liu, Xuerui, Mehraliyev, Fuad, Liu, Chun, Schuckert, Markus
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Choices
Interviews
Leisure
Mass media
Qualitative research
Social media
Social networks
Tourism
Transportation
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Summary:Social media are acknowledged as an important information source that influences tourists’ travel choices. However, qualitative studies that take an inductive approach to identify the roles of social media by investigating how social media affect travel choices are limited. By interviewing 21 tourists who had recently taken trips, this article aimed to identify the roles that social media played in the tourists’ choices of six travel components (destination, transportation, accommodation, food and dining activities, attractions, as well as shopping and leisure activities). Four roles have been identified: Need Generator, Supporter, Guider and Approver. Theoretical and practical implications along with future research suggestions are discussed.
ISSN:1468-7976
1741-3206
DOI:10.1177/1468797619873107