The impact of other group members on tourists’ travel experiences : a study of domestic package tours in China

Purpose: This paper aims to examine the impact of other group members on the travel experiences of Chinese tourists participating in domestic package tours. Design/methodology/approach: Based on the critical incident technique, usable responses were obtained from 253 tourists regarding the influence of other group members on their travel experiences in the same group package tour (GPT). Findings: The results show that the travel experiences of Chinese tourists on a domestic package tour are affected by three general factors, namely, appearance, behaviors, and language of other group members. Research limitations/implications: This research mainly involves samples of young tourists. The findings may not be able to generalize to elderly tourists. Future studies may involve samples from various age cohorts. Practical implications: The findings offer new insights and directions for GPT operators and tour guides to improve tourism management and tourist experiences. Social implications: This study contributes to tourism literature about customer-to-customer interaction by identifying the major categories of other customers’ characteristics or behaviors that may positively or negatively influence a GPT tourist’s travel experience. Originality/value: This study enriches the existing literature by investigating the attributes of other group members that may affect the travel experiences of a domestic GPT participant. Tourism firms can formulate better strategies and staff training to enhance tourists’ travel experiences.