Chinese Travel Agencies & The Internet Age: An Analysis of the Adoption of Internet Tourism in Chengdu, China Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Shaun Edward Newcomer, B.A. Graduate Program in East Asian Languages and Literatures The Ohio State University 2010 Thesis Committee: Galal Walker, Advisor Mark Bender Xiaobin Jian
Copyright by Shaun Newcomer 2010
Abstract Over the past 30 years, the tourism industry in China has evolved from a fledgling state- run industry to become one of the shining stars of China s ongoing economic development. Travel agencies traditionally have had held a central role in China s tourism industry and have continually adapted and evolved to meet the needs of changing markets. The appearance of Ctrip, Elong and other online travel service providers beginning in 1999 marked the entrance of China s tourism industry into the Internet Age and was a catalyst for the adoption of E- marketing and E- commerce solutions in China. This trend has created a vast number of growth opportunities in China s tourism industry, while also bringing about many challenges for Chinese travel agencies. Through the analysis of several travel agencies in Chengdu, China, this paper examines the current state of Internet Tourism in China and explores the challenges facing Chinese travel agencies seeking to adopt an Internet tourism strategy. ii
Dedication Dedicated to my parents and Susan Costakos- Slomka iii
Acknowledgements First, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to Dr. Galal Walker for his unending support and patient guidance over the past six years, without which I would not be where I am today. Second, many thanks to Prof. Xiaosong Zhang for her support in formulating this research topic and helping me to deepen my understanding of tourism in China. Third, much appreciation goes to Prof. Xiaobin Jian and Miss Dongxia Li for their support during my internship and fieldwork in Chengdu, China; where it not for their direction and guidance this research would not have been possible. Lastly, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to my mother, Irene Botsko, for her support, understanding and insightful guidance throughout this long journey. iv
Vita March 21, 1984 BornEuclid, Ohio 2008...B.A. Chinese, The Ohio State University 2010 B.A. Economics, The Ohio State University 2008- Present Graduate Research Associate, Chinese Flagship Program, The Ohio State University Fields of Study Major Fields: East Asian Languages and Literatures v
Abstract... ii Dedication...iii Acknowledgements... iv Vita...v...vii... 1 1.1... 1 1.2... 3 1.3... 5... 6 2.1... 6 2.2...13...14 3.1...14 3.2...16...22 4.1...22 4.2...24 4.3...27...33 5.1...34 5.2...39 21...44...47 vi
1 1978 构...2 2 2008 构...2 3 1980-1990...8 4 1990-1998...10 5 1988-1998...10 6 1994-2008...12 7 构...15 8...31 vii
1 2 200820090928 http://www.cnta.gov.cn/html/2009-9/2009-9- 28-9- 30-78465.html http://www.usc.cuhk.edu.hk/wk_wzdetails.asp?id=2160 1
23.9% 28.2% 40.1% 11.3% 47.9% 11978 构 48.6% 22008 构 3 http://travel.sohu.com/20090423/n263582477.shtml 4 http://www.itravelqq.com/2009/1204/29044.html 5 6 2
7 2010319 http://www.scta.gov.cn/web/scgk- fz.html 8 2010319 3
9 2010319 10 20090915 http://www.sss.net.cn/readnews.asp?newsid=24907&bigclassid=2&smallclassid=2&specialid=3&belong=ts 4
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3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 1980 1985 1990 3.44 8.48 9.11 513.9 1637.78 2562.34 52.91 137.05 174.73 16 17 18 19 8
20 2 http://www.usc.cuhk.edu.hk/wk_wzdetails.asp?id=2160 21 22 http://www.cnta.gov.cn/html/2009-9/2009-9- 28-9- 30-78465.html 9
7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 2746.18 4368.45 4638.65 5112.75 5758.79 6347.84 1990 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 7000 6222 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 1573 4382 0 1988 1994 1998 23 10
24 25 1999 11
5000 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 446.3 508.5 517.4 573.5 523.5 496.6 484.1 518.7 652.8 541.1 587.0 588.6 572.4 603.0 571.3 164.2 205.4 241.4 244 319 426.6 563.0 694.6 1007. 1481. 2298. 2514. 2879. 3492. 4013. 26 http://pages.ctrip.com/public/ctripab/develop.htm 27 http://pages.ctrip.com/public/ctripab/abctrip.htm 28 http://pages.ctrip.com/public/ctripab/core.htm 29 12
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40 http://weixiaoan.blog.sohu.com/160223359.html 19
41 42 20060504 http://travel.veryeast.cn/travel/98/2006-5/3/065314541625625.htm 43 199605 20
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47 http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2010/10/12/october- 2010- web- server- survey.html 28
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48 26 http://research.cnnic.cn/html/1279171593d2348.html 30
49 2 50 2 http://travel.163.com/special/travel_report/ 31
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