Influence of movies and television on Chinese Tourists perception toward international tourism destinations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of movies and TV dramas on Chinese tourists' choice of international travel destinations. An online survey instrument was developed and distributed to Chinese consumers through an online survey panel company. Findings indicated many Chinese are highly involved with international travel and were ardent about movies and/or TV dramas. There was a high level of agreement that these media outlets have a significant impact on travel motivations. Foods, fashion, and other elements featured in movies and TV dramas were motivators for the Chinese market. Thailand and Korea were the two top favorite destinations based upon movie and TV drama consumption. Implications for the tourism industry and the movie and TV drama industries are discussed.