Abstract
Many studies have shown that Internet users do not form a homogenous group in regard to the way in which they appropriate websites. Socio-demographic profiling (age, sex, education, social status) is the usual method for explaining the different website usages of Internet users. This article proposes a new approach — that of socio-types — to understand and manage the different usages. Laboratory observation sessions were conducted about Internet users and their appropriation of the website of a destination management organization. These sessions allowed to identify six socio-types among Internet users of tourism sites: (i) the “Explorer”, (ii) the “Agenda Setter”, (iii) the “Demanding Type”, (iv) the “Party Type”, (v) the “What To Do Type” and (vi) the “Google Addict”. A good knowledge of each of those socio-types will prove very useful for managers in charge of building or redesigning a website. Moreover, that knowledge will make the managers more aware of the need to invest in the interactivity of their websites so that each visitor, whatever his/her socio-type, can find their area of interest.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Bastien, J. M. C, & Scapin, D. (1993). Ergonomic Criteria for the Evaluation of Human-computer Interfaces. Technical report of the French National Institute of Research in Computer Science and Control, No. 156, and online at http://www.ergoweb.ca/criteres.html
Breton, P., & Proulx, S. (2002). L’explosion de la Communication à l’aube du XX1è siècle. Montreal: Boreal.
Castells, M. (2001). The Internet Galaxy, Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press.
Chambat, P. (1994). Usages des Technologies de l’information et de la Communication (TIC): Evolution des Problématiques, TIS, 6(3), 249–270.
Dearden, A., & Lo, C. M. (2004). Using Cooperative Evaluation to Explore Travel and Tourism Decision-Making. In A.J. Frew (Ed), Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2004, proceedings of ENTER 2004 (172–183). New York: Springer.
De Certeau, M. (1990). L’invention au Quotidien. 1. Arts de faire. Paris: Gallimard.
Fusaro, M. (2002). Commerce Electronique Comment Créer la Confiance, St-Hyacinthe: Somabec.
Jouet, J. (2000). Retour Critique sur la Sociologie des Usages, Réseaux, 100, 487–521.
Harvey, P. L. (2004). Cyberespace et Communautique; Appropriation, Réseaux, Groupes Virtuels, Saint-Nicholas (Qu6bec): Presses de l’Université Laval, p. 239.
Kim J., & Lee, J, (2002). Critical Design Factors for Successful E-commerce Systems, Behaviour and Information Technology, 21(3), 185–199.
Lafrance, J.-P., & Brouillard, P. (2002). Le Commerce Electronique, y a-t-il un Modèle Québécois? Sainte-Foy: Presses de l’Université du Québec.
Marec, J. (2004). Usages: Pratiques de Recherche et Théorie des Pratiques, Hermès, 38, 141–147.
Nantel, J., Mekki B. A. & Bressolles, G. (2005). L’efficacité des sites Web: Quand les Consommateurs s’en Mêlent, Gestion, 30(1), 16–23, www.net-question.com/chairerbc/.
Nantel, J., Sénécal, S., Mekki, B., & Berrada, A. (2005). The Influence of “Dead-ends” on Perceived Website Usability, Journal of E-Business, June.
Pan, B., & Fesenmaier, D. R., (2003). Travel Information Search on the Internet: A Preliminary Analysis in A. J. Frew, M. Hitz, & P. O’Connor (Eds). Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2003. proceedings of ENTER 2003 (pp. 242–251). New York: Springer.
Xiang, Z., & Fesenmaier, D. R. (2004). Interface Metaphors and Their Roles in Travel-Related Websites. In A.J. Frew (Ed), Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2004, proceedings of ENTER 2004 (184–194). New York: Springer.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2007 Springer-Verlag Wien
About this paper
Cite this paper
Charest, F., Bédard, F. (2007). Identification of Six Socio-types of Internet Users and their Impact on the Interactivity of Tourism Websites. In: Sigala, M., Mich, L., Murphy, J. (eds) Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2007. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-69566-1_30
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-69566-1_30
Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna
Print ISBN: 978-3-211-69564-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-211-69566-1