Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 21.4
A framework of travel decision-making in interaction with an information system
(adapted from Gretzel, Hwang and Fesenmaier 2012).
another electronic source, or simply formulating a new query. In reality, though, information
seeking and retrieval is often far more ambiguous than this.
Factors infl uencing travel information search
Based on the travel destination choice and information search and processing literatures, Gretzel,
Hwang and Fesenmaier (2012) developed a conceptual framework which integrates various
factors that shape travel information search, particularly when one is interacting with an
online system (e.g. a destination recommender system). As can be seen from
Figure 21.4
,
the
framework assumes that individuals access an online system to learn about alternative destinations
and that three essential factors infl uence travellers' information search:
1 the traveller's personal characteristics;
2 situational needs and constraints (e.g. trip length); and
3
aspects of the decision-making process (e.g. the specifi city of the choice task and decision
frames used).
Each of these aspects of information search is discussed below.
