Information searching and the travel behaviours of MICE travellers: a cross‐cultural study

Abstract

Despite growing academic interest in meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) travel in recent years, there has been little investigation of the comparative information search behaviours of MICE travellers on the basis of their country of origin and cultural background. This paper proposes that country of residence and primary language spoken are signifi cant factors in explaining the information searching and travel behaviours of MICE travellers. The sample population included Japanese-, English-and Chinesespeaking MICE travellers. A self-completion questionnaire was administered to travellers undertaking MICE-related travel in Taipei, Taiwan. Some signifi cant differences were identifi ed between the three respondent groups. The fi ndings demonstrate the important role that is played by internal and external information sources among MICE travellers as a predictor of their subsequent travel to Taiwan.

Travelers’ Information-Seeking Behaviors

“…Country of residence and primary language spoken are significant factors in explaining the information-searching and travel behaviors of meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) travelers (Chiang et al, 2012). As to our knowledge, studies focusing on travelers' specific information-seeking behavior in the US and China are still insufficient.…”

“…Information search behavior has been empirically studied in a tourism context (Chiang et al, 2012;Fodness & Murray, 1999;Gursoy & Chen, 2000;Hyde, 2007;Jun, Vogt, & MacKay, 2007;Luo, Feng, & Cai, 2004;Xu et al, 2009). As with any other consumer product, information acquisition is necessary for selecting a destination and for on-site decisions such as choosing accommodation, means of transportation, and tours (Gursoy & Chen, 2000).…”

“…Researchers concur that understanding regional differences in information search behavior is vital for destination marketers (Chiang, King, & Nguyen, 2012;Gursoy & Chen, 2000;Xu, Morgan, & Song, 2009). A solid understanding of international travel behavior is more crucial than ever (Li, 2012).…”

Informal Sector Business Tourism and Pro-poor Tourism: Africa’s Migrant Entrepreneurs

“…At the heart of Northern literature about business tourism is the 'formal sector' business tourist engaged in travelling for business purposes usually on an international basis and sometimes examined also as a domestic business traveller. Among typical examples and reviews of this Northern literature on business tourism and of Northern business tourists are those provided by Dwyer and Forsyth (1997), Mistilis and Dwyer (1999), Weber and Chon (2002), Weber and Ladkin (2003), Wu and Weber (2005), Yoo and Weber (2005), Davidson and Rogers (2006), Ladkin (2006), Mair and Thompson (2009), Davidson (2011), Chiang, King and Nguyen (2012a, 2012b, Hanly (2012), Locke (2012), and, Lee, Lee and Yoon (2013). Under scrutiny in this business tourism scholarship are issues pertaining to the establishment of convention centres, decision-making and marketing for conferences or exhibitions, the travel behaviour of MICE tourists, and investigations of the local economic impacts of MICE tourism.…”

Examining incentive travelers: How motivation affects organizational commitment

“…However, existing research on incentive travel remains highly fragmented and obsolete. Most published studies in leading journals are highly conceptual and descriptive (e.g., Chiang, King, & Nguyen, 2012;Mair, 2015;Ricci & Holland, 1992;Xiang & Formica, 2007). There is little empirical investigation on the underlying motivations of incentive travel and the consequences for organizations to meet such needs by offering travel incentives.…”