Chinese international students' travel information search behaviour in Australia

This research explores travel information search behaviour of Chinese international students. Results show that online information dominates and that there are three types of websites used by the respondents. Variations in information search were mainly related to the attributes of sources (e.g. accessibility, flexibility). There are three tourist segments in the Chinese international student tourist market, and ten source attribute variables that influence student travellers’ information search strategies. Findings of the research fill a gap in the youth and students’ travel literature. They also provide tourism companies with an insight into which communication strategies are suitable for the market.