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The Influencing Factors of Destination Choice Preferences among Female College Students

Author(s)

Jiayi Wang*, Youyi Dong, Ziyue Liu, Jie Wu, Jingru Ling

Affiliation(s)

Business School, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China *Corresponding Author.

Abstract

In recent years, the rapid development of China's economy and the concomitant improvement of people's living standards have led to the emergence of tourism consumption as a significant aspect of people's everyday lives. In particular, college students occupy a significant and distinctive position within the tourism market. College students possess a degree of economic autonomy and the capacity for independent living, as well as a relatively substantial amount of disposable time and a strong propensity for travel. As a distinctive consumer group within the tourism industry, college students exhibit unique characteristics and preferences compared to other demographic segments. They typically exhibit a heightened appetite for knowledge, exploration and adventure, and are inclined to pursue personalised, diversified and experiential forms of tourism. This paper employs a questionnaire survey to investigate the tourist destination choice preferences of female college students and the factors that influence them. The study revealed that female college students exhibited no discernible preference for first-tier cities and held a favourable view of natural and cultural scenic spots, historic sites, beaches and ancient towns. Furthermore, the travel consumption budget and frequency of female college students are significantly influenced by their monthly living expenses. Presently, the majority of domestic travel agencies' tourism products are traditional sightseeing tours, which fail to address the specific needs of college students. This has resulted in a limited number of customised and experience-oriented tourism products for college students in the market. The article also proffers suggestions for the expansion of the tourism market for female college students, including the utilisation of social media for publicity, the enhancement of the experience of scenic spots, and the provision of secure tourism facilities. Ultimately, the paper elucidates the shortcomings of the research and delineates prospective avenues for future research.

Keywords

Female College Students; Tourism Destination Selection; Tourism Preference; Development of Tourism Market

References

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