Internet vs. travel agencies on pre-visit destination image formation: An information processing view

The present study aims to provide a deeper insight into the factors affecting the formation of tourism destination image. More specifically, it is an attempt to determine the influence that the Internet, as a new information source in intense competition with travel agencies, exerts on the development of the touristʹs pre-visit image. With this objective in mind, the paper analyses the ways in which individuals process information proceeding from each of those sources by way of an empirical study based on a multicultural sample of 592 tourists. sults show that destination image is worse when tourists use a travel agency and Internet together, than when they use a travel agency alone. This effect is moderated by the degree of the touristʹs message involvement and Internet experience.