Beyond Passive Observance: Understanding Egyptian Domestic Tourists' Behaviour through Hyper-Personalised Digital Clienteling

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Tourism Department, Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, Pharos University in Alexandria, Egypt.

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of hyper-personalisation through digital clienteling on the online booking intentions and behaviours of domestic tourists, employing an integrated model of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA). Conducted through a quantitative methodology, the study gathered responses from 326 participants through a structured questionnaire. The participants were randomly chosen from various Egyptian Facebook travel groups, specifically targeting individuals with prior experience in online booking for domestic vacations. The analysis of the gathered data was carried out using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with the assistance of SmartPLS 4.
The findings reveal a satisfactory fit for the model, with significant relationships between attitude, subjective norms, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and online booking intention and behaviour. The demographic analysis highlights a prevalence of educated and younger participants, suggesting that hyper-personalised digital clienteling may appeal more to this demographic.
Practical implications suggest targeted marketing efforts and optimised digital platforms to enhance the user experience. Theoretical implications contribute to the advancement of technology adoption models, providing insights into tourists' decision-making processes. The study's originality lies in its focus on the Egyptian context and domestic tourism market, enriching the literature on technology adoption in developing countries.

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