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Use and Impact of Online Travel Reviews

  • Conference paper
Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2008

Abstract

Consumer-generated content (CGC) is growing in importance. Especially online travel reviews written by consumers are ever more available and used to inform travel-related decisions. A Web-based survey of users of the most prominent travel review site, TripAdvisor, was conducted to investigate how other travellers’ reviews inform the trip planning process. Since current CGC statistics show generational and gender differences, the study also aimed at examining whether those carry over into the realm of travel review use. The results show that reviews are used mostly to inform accommodation decisions and are currently not used much for en route travel planning. Gender differences were found for perceived impacts of reviews, with females reaping greater benefits from using reviews, especially in terms of enjoyment and idea generation. Age differences occurred across a variety of perceptions and use behaviours. Implications for travel marketing and travel information systems design are provided.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Intelligent Systems in Tourism Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences, Texas A&M University, USA

    Ulrike Gretzel & Kyung Hyan Yoo

Authors
  1. Ulrike Gretzel
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  2. Kyung Hyan Yoo
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales Business School, Institut de Management Hotelier International, Cergy-Pontoise, France

    Peter O’Connor

  2. eTourism Competence Center Austria, Innsbruck, Austria

    Wolfram Höpken

  3. Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA

    Ulrike Gretzel

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© 2008 Springer-Verlag Wien

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Gretzel, U., Yoo, K.H. (2008). Use and Impact of Online Travel Reviews. In: O’Connor, P., Höpken, W., Gretzel, U. (eds) Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2008. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-77280-5_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-77280-5_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-211-77279-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-211-77280-5

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