Online Platform Use and Performance Among Listed Tourism Companies in China

Abstract

This paper applies information dissemination theory, consumer information behavior theory, signaling theory, and value co-creation theory to investigate the effects of companies’ online platform operations from a tourism company perspective. We gathered data from 51 listed tourism companies in China between 1992 and 2022 to test these impacts. Results showed that using online platforms could improve listed tourism companies’ performance, but not all platforms played the same role. Of the three online platforms we tested, official websites and WeChat accounts had significant positive influences on listed tourism companies’ performance; Weibo had no effect. Group research revealed that online platforms most effectively enhanced hotels’ performance, followed by comprehensive tourism companies. Resource tourism companies received no obvious impact.