IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/teinso/v66y2021ics0160791x21001469.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Gender differences in user perception of usability and performance of online travel agency websites

Author

Listed:
  • Huang, Zhao
  • Mou, Jian

Abstract

The success of online travel business largely depends on the usability of online travel agency websites, and, hence, the need to rigorously evaluate such websites. Gender-a key variable that explains a website's usage behavior (i.e., acceptance) and gratification from Internet use (i.e., purpose)-may influence the usability requirements of the design of online travel agency websites. This empirical study examines the usability of existing online travel agency websites in terms of gender, focusing on both user perception and performance. The findings show that women have more usability needs than men. The two gender groups have different expectations of different usability features as well. We argue that these findings can improve the understanding of gender differences in user behavior in terms of usability. Developers can thus increase the quality of experience of travel agency websites by improving the websites' flexibility and user satisfaction.

Suggested Citation

  • Huang, Zhao & Mou, Jian, 2021. "Gender differences in user perception of usability and performance of online travel agency websites," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:66:y:2021:i:c:s0160791x21001469
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101671
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X21001469
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101671?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wang, Chunyang & Qu, Hailin & Hsu, Maxwell K., 2016. "Toward an integrated model of tourist expectation formation and gender difference," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 58-71.
    2. Liu, Zhiwei & Park, Sangwon, 2015. "What makes a useful online review? Implication for travel product websites," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 140-151.
    3. Bastida, Unai & Huan, T.C., 2014. "Performance evaluation of tourism websites' information quality of four global destination brands: Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Taipei," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(2), pages 167-170.
    4. Liao, Ziqi & Shi, Xinping, 2017. "Web functionality, web content, information security, and online tourism service continuance," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 258-263.
    5. Ponce, Pedro & Peffer, Therese & Molina, Arturo & Barcena, Sergio, 2020. "Social creation networks for designing low income interfaces in programmable thermostats," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    6. Law, Rob & Qi, Shanshan & Buhalis, Dimitrios, 2010. "Progress in tourism management: A review of website evaluation in tourism research," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 297-313.
    7. Demırkol, Denizhan & Seneler, Cagla & Daım, Tugrul & Shaygan, Amir, 2020. "Measuring perceived usability of university students towards a student information system (SIS): A Turkish university case," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    8. Xiang, Zheng & Gretzel, Ulrike, 2010. "Role of social media in online travel information search," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 179-188.
    9. Chiou, Wen-Chih & Lin, Chin-Chao & Perng, Chyuan, 2011. "A strategic website evaluation of online travel agencies," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 1463-1473.
    10. Faqih, Khaled M.S. & Jaradat, Mohammed-Issa Riad Mousa, 2015. "Assessing the moderating effect of gender differences and individualism-collectivism at individual-level on the adoption of mobile commerce technology: TAM3 perspective," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 37-52.
    11. Ladhari, Riadh & Leclerc, André, 2013. "Building loyalty with online financial services customers: Is there a gender difference?," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 20(6), pages 560-569.
    12. Tsai, Wen-Hsien & Chou, Wen-Chin & Lai, Chien-Wen, 2010. "An effective evaluation model and improvement analysis for national park websites: A case study of Taiwan," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 936-952.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Alexander V. Yakunin & Svetlana S. Bodrunova, 2022. "Cumulative Impact of Testing Factors in Usability Tests for Human-Centered Web Design," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-26, November.
    2. Zhang, Lixuan & Yencha, Christopher, 2022. "Examining perceptions towards hiring algorithms," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    3. Liu, Wenlong & Jiang, Min & Li, Wangjie & Mou, Jian, 2024. "How does the anthropomorphism of AI chatbots facilitate users' reuse intention in online health consultation services? The moderating role of disease severity," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tonghui Lian & Caihua Yu & Zhongqun Wang & Zhiping Hou, 2017. "The evaluation study on tourism websites: from the perspective of triangular intuitionistic fuzzy multiple attribute group decision making," Journal of Applied Statistics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(16), pages 2877-2889, December.
    2. Molinillo, Sebastian & Liébana-Cabanillas, Francisco & Anaya-Sánchez, Rafael & Buhalis, Dimitrios, 2018. "DMO online platforms: Image and intention to visit," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 116-130.
    3. Eduard Cristobal-Fransi & Natalia Daries & Eva Martin-Fuentes & Yolanda Montegut-Salla, 2020. "Industrial Heritage 2.0: Internet Presence and Development of the Electronic Commerce of Industrial Tourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-18, July.
    4. Salavati, Shahram & Hashim, Noor Hazarina, 2015. "Website adoption and performance by Iranian hotels," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 367-374.
    5. Clara Benevolo & Elena Morchio, 2015. "La qualit? della comunicazione via web per la promozione del turismo nautico," ECONOMIA E DIRITTO DEL TERZIARIO, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2015(2), pages 291-313.
    6. Eduard Cristobal-Fransi & Natalia Daries & Antoni Serra-Cantallops & José Ramón-Cardona & Maria Zorzano, 2018. "Ski Tourism and Web Marketing Strategies: The Case of Ski Resorts in France and Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-24, August.
    7. Amal Ponathil & Aasish Bhanu & Kalyan Piratla & Vivek Sharma & Kapil Chalil Madathil, 2024. "Investigation of the factors influencing the online consumer’s choice of a service provider for home improvement," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 2519-2546, December.
    8. Faqih, Khaled M.S., 2016. "An empirical analysis of factors predicting the behavioral intention to adopt Internet shopping technology among non-shoppers in a developing country context: Does gender matter?," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 140-164.
    9. Chiou, Wen-Chih & Lin, Chin-Chao & Perng, Chyuan, 2011. "A strategic website evaluation of online travel agencies," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 1463-1473.
    10. Boštjan Brumen & Marjetka Rangus & Maja Turnšek Hancic & Tanja Lešnik Štuhec & Mitja Gorenak, 2017. "Slovenian Tourism Industry: E-Disabled," Academica Turistica - Tourism and Innovation Journal, University of Primorska Press, vol. 10(1), pages 19-26.
    11. Vo Nga Thi & Chovancová Miloslava & Tri Ho Thanh, 2019. "A major boost to the website performance of up-scale hotels in Vietnam," Management & Marketing, Sciendo, vol. 14(1), pages 14-30, March.
    12. Caiwei Ma & Norman Au & Lianping Ren, 2020. "Biased minds experience improved decision-making speed and confidence on social media: a heuristic approach," Information Technology & Tourism, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 593-624, December.
    13. Gang Ren & Taeho Hong, 2017. "Investigating Online Destination Images Using a Topic-Based Sentiment Analysis Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-18, September.
    14. Mariana Marques Lima & Emerson Wagner Mainardes & Ricardo Gouveia Rodrigues, 2020. "Tourist expectations and perception of service providers: a Brazilian perspective," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 14(1), pages 131-166, March.
    15. Jooyoung Hwang & Anita Eves & Jason L. Stienmetz, 2021. "The Impact of Social Media Use on Consumers’ Restaurant Consumption Experiences: A Qualitative Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-33, June.
    16. Băltescu Codruța Adina, 2017. "The Travel Agency Website – Factor for Business Success," Ovidius University Annals, Economic Sciences Series, Ovidius University of Constantza, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 0(2), pages 371-375, December.
    17. Foroudi, Pantea & Akarsu, Tuğra Nazlı & Ageeva, Elena & Foroudi, Mohammad M. & Dennis, Charles & Melewar, T.C., 2018. "PROMISING THE DREAM: Changing destination image of London through the effect of website place," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 97-110.
    18. Sánchez Jiménez, Miguel & Matos, Nelson & Correia, Marisol, 2019. "Evolution Of The Presence And Engagement Of Official Social Networks In Promoting Tourism In Spain," Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, Cinturs - Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, University of Algarve, vol. 7(3), pages 210-225.
    19. Bronner, Fred & de Hoog, Robert, 2016. "Travel websites: Changing visits, evaluations and posts," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 94-112.
    20. Samuel Bates, 2021. "A Glance at Tourism Economics over the last decade [Coup d'œil sur l'Économie du Tourisme de la dernière décennie]," Post-Print hal-03263048, HAL.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:66:y:2021:i:c:s0160791x21001469. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/technology-in-society .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.