Abstract
ABSTRACT Travel information is omnipresent. Yet, the relationship between the source of travel information and tourist expenditure remains underexplored. To address this gap, the present study examines how the source of travel information used by tourists, both pre-trip and in-destination, impacts on tourist expenditure. Using survey data collected from tourists who visited Sarawak, Malaysia prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, this study is among the first of its kind to investigate the role of information source on tourist expenditure in a developing tourism destination. The study reveals that tourists who used travel agencies/tour operators and magazines/newspapers prior to their visit are likely to spend more across all expenditure categories. While in destination, tourists tend to use the internet to find the best prices on various activities, leading to significantly lower expenditure across most categories. These findings have important implications for tourism policy makers and tour operators in developing tourism destinations, empowering them with insights to formulate targeted advertising and marketing communication strategies.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
