How do young Chinese friendship groups make travel decisions? A content and interaction process analysis

Hanqun Song, Ying Wang, Beverley A. Sparks

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Young Chinese tourists form an increasingly important market and they tend to travel in small friendship or family groups. This study examines how young Chinese friendship groups (aged between 18 and 35 years) make travel decisions. Using the observation approach, this study observes the group travel decision-making process of 10 small groups. Issues such as activity, cost, travel timing, transportation, climate, safety, and distance, were found to determine destination choice. The role and function of verbal and non-verbal behaviors in influencing group decision-making were also investigated. This study contributes to both general group interaction literature and tourism literature.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)772-785
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Travel and Tourism Marketing
Volume35
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 24 Jul 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • friendship group
  • Group travel decision-making
  • interaction process analysis
  • observation
  • young Chinese tourists

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management
  • Marketing

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'How do young Chinese friendship groups make travel decisions? A content and interaction process analysis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this