How Do Various Social Media Platforms Influence Chinese Tourists' Destination Selections?

Abstract

Underpinned by the rising application of social media to tourism and hospitality, this chapter discussed how various platforms influence tourists' destination selection in China by exploring different types of tourism information and Chinese social media platforms, thus analysing their application and influence on destination selection across the three-stage travel process. This chapter found that tourists' destination selection needs different tourism information produced by individual tourists, destination marketing organisations, and tourism businesses. Thus, Chinese social media platforms have been designed with different functions to apply to tourists' destination choices across three stages of travel. During this process, information characteristics (e.g., positive and negative comments, information variation, richness, and credibility) on these platforms generate positive and negative influences on tourists' destination selection. Based on these, the authors developed a framework for social media for destination selection that suggests several theoretical and managerial implications.