Abstract (150 Words)
Second life has been used by the travel and tourism industry as a collaborative and commercial tool for communicating with travelers as well as tourism enterprises in the areas of destination marketing (e.g. Tourism Ireland), business management (i.e. Starwood Hotels; Crowne Plaza; STA travel agents). However, few studies have applied theory to understand the significance of 3D virtual worlds to tourism destinations. Thus, the intent of the present study is to test the applicability the Self-Determination Theory in understanding the use of Second Life in destination marketing and its association to develop consideration and awareness for potential customers in their destination choices
A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION ON THE IMPLICATIONS OF 3D VIRTUAL WORLDS IN DESTINATION MARKETING
Second life has been used by the travel and tourism industry as a collaborative and commercial tool for communicating with travelers as well as tourism enterprises in the areas of destination marketing (e.g. Tourism Ireland), business management (i.e. Starwood Hotels; Crowne Plaza; STA travel agents). However, few studies have applied theory to understand the significance of 3D virtual worlds to tourism destinations. Thus, the intent of the present study is to test the applicability the Self-Determination Theory in understanding the use of Second Life in destination marketing and its association to develop consideration and awareness for potential customers in their destination choices
