O Papel dos Estabelecimentos Hoteleiros na Informação Turística: Um Contributo Empírico

Abstract

Tourism information is an unassailable research topic, and it is also crucial for the effectiveness of tourism organizations. Indeed, purchase decisions are complex and rely heavily on information. Hotels are privileged places where visitors concentrated and can thus contribute to the effectiveness of tourism information delivery. This topic has been addressed in the literature from various perspectives. However, the majority of the studies have been focusing on information search before the travel experience, and rarely on what happens while the tourist is travelling. In addition, the literature denotes a serious limitation by neglecting the central role of lodging establishments. Therefore, it is dee-med pertinent to answer the following question: are hotels and lodging establishments in general privileged locations for providing information about the destination? In this context, the present study aims at i) proposing a model that systematizes tourist information search behavior; ii) Understanding whether the delivery of tourist information by hotels produces benefits to hotels, tourists and destinations. The paper thus contributes to mitigate the degree of ambiguity in the literature, adds value to the body of knowledge in the area of tourist information search behavior, and suggests important managerial implications.