| Internet has replaced or decreased the role of many traditional travel planning tools, information or marketing communications, and purchase channels. Despite the fast growth in Internet use for travel information search, the population who purchases travel products online is only half of the online information searchers. In other words, consumers use the Internet differently as a functional information source and shopping outlet.; This research sought to identify differences and interrelationships between travel information search and product purchase behaviors. The problem statement of this research was to understand online travel planning strategies during the pretrip stage for a general population sample of Internet users, and to examine which factors significantly encourage or discourage online travel information search and product purchase during pretrip planning. This study had five distinct findings: (1) travel information search and purchase behaviors during pretrip are different; (2) travel information search and purchase behaviors are different by country of residence; (3) people use various channels, such as online, offline and both on/offline, for travel information search and purchase; (4) travel information search and purchase behaviors were more likely to relate to a specific purpose of Internet use; and (5) patterns of travel information search and purchase vary by travel product categories. |
