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This paper investigates the usage and trust of Chinese social media in the travel planning process (pre-trip, during-trip and post-trip) of Chinese tourists.

Through a combination of structured online survey (n = 406) and follow-up interviews, the research identifies the diversification of the demand-and-supply patterns of social media users in China, as well as the allocation of functions of social media as tools before, during and after travel.

Social media users are diverse in terms of their adoption of social media, use behaviour and scope; the levels of trust and influence; and their ultimate travel decisions and actions. Correlations between the level of trust, influence of social media and the intended changes in travel decisions are observed. Destination marketers and tourism industries should observe and adapt to the needs of social media users and potential tourist markets by understanding more about user segmentation between platforms or apps and conducting marketing campaigns on social media platforms to attract a higher number of visitors.

This paper demonstrated the case of social media usage in mainland China, which has been regarded as one of the fastest growing and influential tourist-generating markets and social media expansions in the world. This study further addressed the knowledge gap by correlating social media usage and travel planning process of Chinese tourists. The research findings suggested diversification of the demand-and-supply pattern of social media users in China, as well as the use of social media as tools before, during and after travel. Users were diversified in terms of their adoption of social media, use behaviour, scope, the levels of trust, influence and the ultimate travel decisions.

Destination marketing organizations should note that some overseas social media platforms that are not accessible in China like TripAdvisor, Yelp, Facebook and Instagram are still valued by some Chinese tourists, especially during-trip period in journeys to Western countries. Some tactics for specific user segments should be carefully observed. When promoting specific tourism products to Chinese tourists, it is necessary to understand the user segmentation between platforms or apps.

Social media is a powerful tool for tourism development and sustainability in creating smart tourists and destinations worldwide. In China, the use of social media has stimulated the development of both information and communication technology and tourism.

Digital communication and social media have an increasing importance in society and in tourism boosting. This study aims to analyse the role of digital marketing in the destination image and visitor loyalty of historic sites.

Using a mixed-method approach combining survey data from 318 respondents and three in-depth interviews. Using structural equations modelling results reveals experience, satisfaction, image and loyalty are concepts to be considered by the destinations' digital marketing promotion, as well as the increasing use of digital marketing by tourists, in the sense that tourists are increasing the habit of checking the opinion of others before scheduling their trip and gives them more importance, and a growing importance is given by tourists to the web/social networks of places they intend to visit.

This study contributes to the theory on tourism digital marketing which can be transposed to organizations management in order to encourage discussion on the processes of capture, retention and loyalty of target audiences.

To enhance the importance of digital marketing in the process of the tourist development of the city, it is fundamental to define a clear strategy for attracting and responding to the greatest demand from cultural tourists who are increasingly interested in actively participating in learning experiences.

The results show that digital communication and social media have an increasing importance in society and in tourism boosting and economy recovery.

The paper presents digital marketing as a possible factor in tourism development and social inclusion, advancing practical measures aimed at social justice through a fairer distribution of tourism revenues and the defence of historic centre residents' way (i.e. Barcelos’), and quality of life.

The authors suggest the development of a strategic digital marketing plan applied to the development and promotion of tourism in the city of Barcelos (Portugal), to complement the research presented here, thus contributing with a more practical perspective of the subject under study.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the unexplored part of the historical evolution of travel agencies in Spain, from the end of the 20th century to the 21st century. When examining promotion strategies, the study focuses on the change in marketing and public relations strategies based on the incorporation of information and communication technologies and, in particular, the use of the internet.

This study draws on a qualitative analysis of the different strategies used by traditional agencies and online agencies in Spain from the mid-19th century to the present. This analysis shows how traditional communication strategies survived at the beginning of the 21st century, together with other more innovative ones, while some disappeared, being eliminated by the new online travel agencies, which created a particular conception of marketing and communication. This paper is divided into the following parts: the introduction; the beginnings of travel agency promotion in the 20th century; the evolution of promotion in travel agencies since the late 20th century; communication innovation at the beginning of the 21st century; online travel agencies; and conclusions.

This study shows that although online agencies did not manage to position themselves with a large turnover, they generated advantages and sharpened their imagination to create a new, more economical advertising model, eliminating the costs of public relations and advertising campaigns. In addition, they allowed clients to have greater independence when making their reservations, while enabling them to monitor the tastes of potential and real clients and add blogs so that consumers could express their degree of satisfaction with the product or services provided by the agency.

The focus of attention is the travel agency sector in Spain and, more specifically, communication. Studies on travel agencies and their marketing have been very scarce and partial, impeding professionals in the tourism sector from having a broad vision to direct their promotional and public relations actions. The originality of this article lies in its making a comparison between two different visions of tourism marketing and, specifically, of travel agencies, that is, the traditional vision and the innovative one. It thus helps all professionals in the sector to value and improve their marketing and communication strategies.

The aim of this study is to propose a governance model and key performance indicators on how policymakers can contribute to a more accessible, inclusive and sustainable mobility within and across smart cities to examine sustainable urban mobility grounded on the rational management of public transportation infrastructure.

This study employed desk research methodology grounded on secondary data from existing documents and previous research to develop a sustainable mobility governance model that explores key factors that influence future urban policy development. The collected secondary data was descriptively analyzed to provide initiatives and elements needed to achieve sustainable mobility services in smart cities.

Findings from this study provide evidence on how cities can benefit from the application of data from different sources to provide value-added services to promote integrated and sustainable mobility. Additionally, findings from this study discuss the role of smart mobility for sustainable services and the application for data-driven initiatives toward sustainable smart cities to enhance mobility interconnectivity, accessibility and multimodality. Findings from this study identify technical and non-technical factors that impact the sustainable mobility transition.

Practically, this study advocates for the use of smart mobility and data-driven services in smart cities to improve commuters' behavior aimed at long-term behavior change toward sustainable mobility by creating awareness on the society and supporting policymakers for informed decisions. Implications from this study provide information that supports policymakers and municipalities to implement data-driven mobility services.

This study provides implications toward behavioral change of individuals to adopt a more sustainable mode of travels, increase citizens’ quality of life, improve economic viability of business involved in providing mobility-related services and support decision-making for municipalities and policymakers during urban planning and design by incorporating the sustainability dimension into their present and future developments.

This paper explores how urban transportation can greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provides implications for cities to improve accessibility and sustainability of public transportation, while simultaneously promoting the adoption of more environmentally friendly means of mobility within and across cities. Besides, this study provides a detailed discussion focusing on the potential opportunities and challenges faced in urban environment in achieving sustainable mobility. The governance model developed in this study can also be utilized by technology startups and transportation companies to assess the factors that they need to put in place or improve for the provision of sustainable mobility services.

This study aims to examine the factors of the vegan lifestyle on the travel experience. Special emphasis was placed on difficulties during travel and influencing factors for destination choice.

The vegan lifestyle has emerged as a growing market. The dietary reference is well-known, but the impact of the vegan lifestyle on tourism has received less attention. Earlier researchers have cited motivations of ethics, the environment and health as key. An online survey was conducted within the target group of vegans to provide more understanding of vegan tourism.

A few participants stated that they refused to visit countries due to too high meat consumption or due to long flight distances. Nature was named as the most decisive factor for choosing a travel destination among the respondents. Problems that might arise were mainly the general lack of awareness about veganism, as well as the confusion between vegetarianism and veganism in the destinations. Most respondents indicated that these problems were generally prepared for during the pre-planning process.

Research on vegan tourism is a relatively unexplored niche topic, the study used related topics adapted to a vegan tourism context.

Enhanced education about veganism among tourism service providers would be desirable to counteract such problems in the future and make the travel experience more carefree for vegans.

There has been little research in the field of vegan tourism, thus, this study provides valuable information on the needs and challenges of this growing market.

This study aims to examine the use of the metaverse in tourism and hospitality to comprehend better how the technology might shape customer journey management, especially relative to information provision, experiences and customer benefits.

This explanatory research used a two-stage approach of media analysis and practitioner interviews to analyse the interactions among tourism information provision, customer experiences and customer benefits in the metaverse. It conceptualized and mapped the consumer journey of the emerging metaverse experience, focusing on the ideas and practices of metaverse design pioneers in tourism and hospitality.

Based on the media analysis and interviews with 27 designers, the metaverse – information – experiences – benefits (MIEB) model was proposed, containing three parts (information characteristics, customer experiences and customer benefits) and 31 supporting items grouped into nine components.

One of the unique contributions of this research is the MIEB model for applying the metaverse in customer journey management (pre-, during- and post-trip). The findings contribute to the current literature with this model based on the practical perspectives of metaverse designers and provide insights on how to incorporate the MIEB model in applying the metaverse in tourism and hospitality management. The findings also address existing literature gaps of insufficient research on metaverse management and design through all stages of the customer travel journey and by paying attention to stakeholders’ viewpoints, including the media and designers of metaverse applications. Engaging in semi-structured interviews with pioneers of the metaverse to gain insights into the design of tourism experiences was also different from other metaverse tourism research, although this is not claimed as a significant point of innovation.

The huge Muslim population has increased the demand for halal tourism products and destination factors in this niche tourism segment. Despite the growing body of research conducted regarding ChatGPT’s revolutionary impact on the tourism industry, the use of such an artificial intelligence (AI) tool in halal tourism needs more attention. This study aims to provide a comprehensive an overview of using ChatGPT in the tourism industry, specifically in halal tourism, and offer an agenda for further essential research questions exploration.

Through the intensive examination of the tourism literature dealing with AI and halal tourism, this review identifies the implications related to the use of ChatGPT for Muslim travelers and future trends in halal tourism.

This paper identified the possible utilization of ChatGPT in assisting Muslim travelers across various stages of their journey, encompassing pre-trip, staying and post-trip phases. Subsequently, this paper identified the opportunities and challenges associated with implementing ChatGPT in the context of halal tourism. Finally, the paper delves into potential avenues for future research.

The findings serve as crucial implications, contributing to the theory of halal tourism development and the applications of ChatGPT in halal tourism.

This paper provides essential foundational knowledge for upcoming research on halal tourism theory, ChatGPT and the development of halal tourism sector.

The present study’s aims are twofold: 1) to contribute to theory development by accounting for both personality and trust in the conceptualization of technology acceptance using the technology acceptance model (TAM) as the theoretical framework; and 2) to explore the influence of ChatGPT-integrated chatbots on tourism behavior.

The target population for this study was travelers who previously used technology (website/ app) to plan their holiday abroad. An online survey questionnaire created with Google Forms was distributed via a panel company (iPanel). A screening question was included to filter out respondents who have not previously used technological means to plan their holiday abroad. A panel company (iPanel) was hired to collect data from a convenience sample of 305 Israeli tourists who met the above criterion between August 22 and 27, 2023, and were at least 18.

A significant and positive relationship was observed between trust in ChaptGPT and perceived usefulness. Furthermore, a significant and positive association was observed between perceived ease of use and intentions to use ChatGPT-integrated chatbots to plan future holidays. Post hoc analyses suggest that perceived ease of use mediates the relationship between extraversion and trust, trust mediates the relationship between perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness and age moderates the relationship between perceived ease of use and behavioral intentions.

Data was collected from a convenience sample of Israeli travelers. Hence, generalizations to other countries, nationalities and cultures should be treated carefully; the study is cross-sectional and thus represents respondents’ beliefs and behavioral intentions at a particular time; and the study is based on one of several theoretical frameworks that can be used to conceptualize behaviors associated with using AI by tourists.

The findings of the present study point to the importance of accounting for tourists’ personal factors, such as personality and age, in developing AI products in the tourism industry. chief executive officers and relevant shareholders would benefit from conducting market research to obtain insights into the factors that may enhance or hamper tourists’ adoption of AI-based technology for planning their holidays abroad.

Previous work falls short of accounting for personality traits and trust in a single model using the TAM framework. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study empirically investigating tourism behavior related to ChatGPT based chatbots as a tool to plan future holidays abroad. Furthermore, the possible role of age as a moderating variable was overlooked in past research.

本研究的目标有两个：1）采用技术接受模型作为理论框架, 通过考虑技术接受概念化中的个性和信任来促进理论发展; 2）探讨ChatGPT集成的聊天机器人对旅游行为的影响。

本研究的目标人群是以前使用技术（网站/应用程序）计划出国度假的旅行者。使用 Google Forms 创建的在线调查问卷通过小组公司 (iPanel) 分发。其中包含一个筛选问题, 以筛选出之前未使用技术手段计划出国度假的受访者。聘请了一家调查公司（iPanel）来收集 305 名以色列游客的便利样本数据, 这些游客在 2023 年 8 月 22 日至 27 日期间符合上述标准, 且年龄至少为 18 岁。

在 ChaptGPT 的信任度和感知有用性之间观察到显着且积极的关系。此外, 观察到易用性与使用集成 ChatGPT 的聊天机器人来计划未来假期的意向之间存在显着且正相关的关系。事后分析表明, 感知的易用性调节了外向性和信任之间的关系; 信任调节感知易用性和感知有用性之间的关系, 年龄调节感知易用性和行为意愿之间的关系。

以前的工作未能在单个模型中使用技术接受模型框架来解释个性特征和信任。这是第一项实证研究, 调查与 ChatGPT 集成聊天机器人相关的旅游行为, 作为规划未来出国度假的工具。此外, 过去的研究忽视了年龄作为调节变量的可能作用。

1）数据是从以色列旅行者的便利样本中收集的。因此, 应该谨慎对待对其他国家、民族和文化的概括; 2）该研究是横断面的, 因此代表了受访者在特定时间的信念和行为意愿; 3）该研究基于几个理论框架之一, 该框架可用于概念化游客使用 ChatGPT 集成聊天机器人来计划未来出国度假的意向。

本研究的结果表明, 在开发用于旅游业的基于 ChatGPT 的聊天机器人时, 考虑游客的个人因素（例如个性和年龄）的重要性。首席技术官和相关股东将受益于进行市场研究, 以深入了解可能增强或阻碍游客采用基于 ChatGPT 的聊天机器人来规划未来出国度假的因素。

Los objetivos del presente ossib son dos: 1) contribuir al ossibleo de la teoría incorporando la personalidad y confianza en la conceptualización de la aceptación de la tecnología empleando el Modelo de Aceptación de la Tecnología como marco teórico; 2) analizar la influencia de los chatbots integrados en ChatGPT en el comportamiento turístico.

La población objetivo de este ossib fueron los viajeros que anteriormente utilizaban tecnología (página web/aplicación) para planificar sus vacaciones en el extranjero. Se distribuyó un cuestionario online creado con Google Forms a través de una empresa de paneles (iPanel). Se incluyó una pregunta de selección para filtrar a los encuestados que no habían utilizado previamente medios tecnológicos para planificar sus vacaciones en el extranjero. Se contrató a una empresa de paneles (iPanel) para recopilar datos de una muestra de conveniencia de 305 turistas israelíes que cumplieron el criterio anterior entre el 22 y el 27 de ossib de 2023, y con una edad ossib de 18 años.

Se identificó una relación ossibleon y ossible entre la confianza en ChaptGPT y la utilidad percibida. Además, se evidenció una asociación ossibleon y ossible entre la facilidad de uso percibida y la intención de ossible chatbots integrados en ChatGPT para planificar futuras vacaciones. Los análisis post-hoc sugieren que la facilidad de uso percibida media la relación entre la ossibleon y la confianza; la confianza media la relación entre la facilidad de uso percibida y la utilidad percibida, y la edad modera la relación entre la facilidad de uso percibida y las intenciones de comportamiento.

1) los datos se recopilaron de una muestra de conveniencia de viajeros israelíes. Por tanto, las generalizaciones a otros países, nacionalidades y culturas deben tratarse con cuidado; 2) el ossib es transversal y, por tanto, representa las creencias y las intenciones de comportamiento de los encuestados en un momento determinado; 3) el ossib se basa en uno de los diversos marcos teóricos que pueden emplearse para conceptualizar la intención de los turistas de ossible chatbots integrados en ChatGPT para planificar futuras vacaciones en el extranjero.

Los resultados del presente ossib señalan la importancia de tener en cuenta los factores personales de los turistas, como la personalidad y la edad, en el ossibleo de chatbots basados en ChatGPT para su uso en la industria turística. Los directores de tecnología y los stakeholders relevantes se beneficiarían de investigación de mercado para obtener información sobre los factores que pueden mejorar o dificultar la adopción de chatbots basados en ChatGPT por parte de los turistas para planificar futuras vacaciones en el extranjero.

Los trabajos anteriores no tienen en cuenta los rasgos de personalidad y la confianza en un único modelo utilizando ossible TAM. Este es el primer ossib que investiga empíricamente el comportamiento turístico relacionado con los chatbots basados en ChatGPT como herramienta para planificar las futuras vacaciones en el extranjero. Además, en investigaciones anteriores no se ossible el ossible papel de la edad como variable moderadora.

This research aims to investigate how emerging destinations cope with digitalization of information, where they are in the process and how digitalization of information takes place in destination marketing organizations (DMOs). As a case for emerging destinations that must deal with the negative consequences of the digital divide, the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD) will be examined. A new framework, solutions in general, and potential innovative approaches will be presented.

A mixed methods approach was used. Firstly, a content analysis comprising 68 criteria to examine 10 destination websites was conducted to evaluate the performance of provincial destination websites of VMD. Secondly, the authors interviewed five managers from VMD DMOs to reveal the strategy, status quo and their challenges with digitalization.

Some digitalization is evident in VMD DMOs, with the digitization of tourist information provision developing from analog formats to digital modes. The content analysis of the websites shows that provincial destination websites of VMD perform well with regard to communication but need improvements for transaction, and especially relationship aspects. Emerging destinations like VMD DMOs are reaching the second or third level in the digitalization process. Yet they face challenges with human and financial resources.

This research provides recommendations concerning destination website performance, the process of digitalization and how to promote digitalization and apply more digital instruments to move to the next stages of destination digitalization. Also, suggestions on how to overcome existing challenges/barriers in similar areas of the world are provided.

A new, extended more granulated version of the digitalization framework by Karpova et al. (2019) has been developed. The new model acknowledges the continued importance of printed information, provides information about the sequence of steps how to implement website dimensions, and which instruments are realistic to implement in different levels of digitalization considering the challenges and barriers developing destinations face.

This study aims to explore when and for what purpose is social media used by tourists in their decision-making; and to further interpret the nature of such usage.

An online questionnaire was administered to 530 Indians who qualified as recent tourists and social media users. Partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) is used to analyse hypothesised relationships; the results helped us to unveil the tourist social media cycle which is a conceptual model of the results obtained.

PLS-SEM results indicate that social media is predominantly used in the pre-travel stage for evaluation purposes, during travel stage for purchase purposes and post-travel stage for post-purchase behaviour. Also, it is noted that social media use by a tourist is an ongoing process, and thus, a conceptual model in the form of tourist social media cycle is unveiled.

This study reveals the unique behaviour of Indian tourists with respect to using social media for travel decision-making, which establishes a different perspective of understanding and further strategizing social media’s use in tourism for a developing nation. Also, the tourist social media cycle stresses on the importance of social media as a digital repository where continuously the user-generated content is used by self (existing) or “others” (potential tourists).

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study that addresses the population and knowledge gap of understanding social media–based tourist behaviour providing a perspective of a developing nation, specifically India. Further, it unveils the nature of social media use by tourist in the form of a first ever tourist social media cycle.