| This study was carried out to investigate current and potential Chinese outbound tourists and their use of the Internet for travel decision-making. Literature was reviewed on areas such as Chinese outbound tourism, online tourism development, profiles of Internet users, patterns of Internet use, travel information search and barriers to online product purchase/repurchase. An online travel information search and purchase model was drafted based on the review of current information search and travel decision-making models. Four major hypotheses were suggested concerning the possible influences of travelers' characteristics, perceiver/practical barriers to online purchase, and satisfaction/dissatisfaction assessment on their travel decision-making via the Internet. By carrying out a Web survey with a nonprobability sample of Chinese outbound tourists, the proposed model was tested and revised.; Limitations exist due to the nonprobability sample and the North American based measures applied. Recommendations are provided for future research with regard to the specific situation in Chinese outbound tourism. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
