Online travel reviews as persuasive communication: The effects of content type, source and certification logos on consumer behavior
File version
Author(s)
Perkins, Helen E
Buckley, Ralf
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
Size
952744 bytes
File type(s)
application/pdf
Location
License
Abstract
Online review sites provide increasingly important sources of information in tourism product purchases. We tested experimentally how source, content style, and peripheral credibility cues in online postings influence four consumer beliefs, and how those in turn influence attitudes and purchase intentions for an eco-resort. We compared tourists' posts to managers' posts, containing vague versus specific content, and with or without peripheral certification logos. First, we tested effects of tourists' beliefs about utility, trustworthiness, quality and corporate social responsibility on attitude toward the resort and purchase intentions. Second, we tested the role of source, content, and certification on the beliefs. The interactions are complex, but broadly tourists treat specific information posted by customers as most useful and trustworthy. Their purchase intentions are influenced principally by their overall attitude toward the resort and their beliefs in its corporate social responsibility.
Journal Title
Tourism Management
Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
39
Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
© 2013 Elsevier. This is the author-manuscript version of this paper. Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version.
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject
Commercial services
Marketing
Marketing not elsewhere classified
Tourism