Hybrid tourist information search German tourists' combination of digital and analogue information channels

• In a rapidly digitalizing world, both tourism actors and researchers are striving to keep pace with developments in tourist information search. This is not an easy task, as research results are pointing at different directions. Moreover, while tourism research is indicating the importance of analogue and digital information sources in parallel, tourism actors focus mainly on digital development. This does not make sense. This study aims to contribute to the academic debate on the importance and combination of information channels. The paper is based on a multi-method approach including surveys and interviews. Results show that tourists are hybrid information searchers who are loyal to their information channels and who dismiss too much of information. Empirically, the study is based on German tourists in Sweden.

• n a rapidly digitalizing world, both tourism actors and researchers are striving to keep pace with developments in tourist information search. This is not an easy task, as research results are pointing at different directions. Moreover, while tourism research is indicating the importance of analogue and digital information sources in parallel, tourism actors focus mainly on digital development. This does not make sense. This study aims to contribute to the academic debate on the importance and combination of information channels. The paper is based on a multi-method approach including surveys and interviews. Results show that tourists are hybrid information searchers who are loyal to their information channels and who dismiss too much of information. Empirically, the study is based on German tourists in Sweden.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Tvärvetenskapliga studier inom samhällsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Social Sciences Interdisciplinary (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Analogue tourist information

digital tourist information

German tourists

hybrid tourist information

information search behaviour

Sweden

tourist behaviour

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)