Pull Factors and Information Retrieval Channels for International Summer Tourists of Kuusamo
Manninen, Kirsi (2022)
2022
All rights reserved. This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022121429854
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022121429854
Tiivistelmä
This thesis aims to discover the information retrieval channels and pull factors for international travelers visiting Kuusamo in the summer of 2022. This research was conducted on behalf of a client company, Karhuntassu Tourist Information in Kuusamo.
Several different concepts are discussed in the theoretical part, such as the information retrieval process, information source, information channels, pull factors of a travel destination and the pull factors of summertime to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the phenomena. Information seeking is a holistic process that starts with information need and ends in information use and the information seeking can be systematic or random. In addition, information retrieval refers to the actions taken to find the information needed. A channel refers to a mechanism or practice that enables the information seeker to access the information source. The pull factor is a motivation breeder that attracts a traveler to enter a destination or region and when it comes to tourist destinations, attractions are in a central role in decision-making and in arising interest in a destination.
The research was conducted using mixed methods since it provides the most holistic overview of the phenomena, combining quantitative research with qualitative research. The aim of using mixed methods was to answer the research questions by implementing a questionnaire for international travelers in Kuusamo during the summer of 2022. The quantitative part of the survey was selected to enable the processing of the material with statistical methods. The qualitative part of the questionnaire included two open-ended questions. The survey was created with the statistical program Webropol, a Finnish software to create surveys for a focus group. The program provides the opportunity to respond to the questionnaire via an internet link. A paper version of the survey was provided to maximize the number of responses.
The outcome of the thesis was that the main pull factors were confirmed to be nature, hiking, visiting national parks, the peacefulness of the region, and the Finnish lifestyle. The most used information retrieval sources were informal such as friends, family, and colleagues. In addition, information retrieval channels included internet websites, although printed media played a significant role as the respondents’ information channel when seeking information about Kuusamo.
Several different concepts are discussed in the theoretical part, such as the information retrieval process, information source, information channels, pull factors of a travel destination and the pull factors of summertime to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the phenomena. Information seeking is a holistic process that starts with information need and ends in information use and the information seeking can be systematic or random. In addition, information retrieval refers to the actions taken to find the information needed. A channel refers to a mechanism or practice that enables the information seeker to access the information source. The pull factor is a motivation breeder that attracts a traveler to enter a destination or region and when it comes to tourist destinations, attractions are in a central role in decision-making and in arising interest in a destination.
The research was conducted using mixed methods since it provides the most holistic overview of the phenomena, combining quantitative research with qualitative research. The aim of using mixed methods was to answer the research questions by implementing a questionnaire for international travelers in Kuusamo during the summer of 2022. The quantitative part of the survey was selected to enable the processing of the material with statistical methods. The qualitative part of the questionnaire included two open-ended questions. The survey was created with the statistical program Webropol, a Finnish software to create surveys for a focus group. The program provides the opportunity to respond to the questionnaire via an internet link. A paper version of the survey was provided to maximize the number of responses.
The outcome of the thesis was that the main pull factors were confirmed to be nature, hiking, visiting national parks, the peacefulness of the region, and the Finnish lifestyle. The most used information retrieval sources were informal such as friends, family, and colleagues. In addition, information retrieval channels included internet websites, although printed media played a significant role as the respondents’ information channel when seeking information about Kuusamo.