Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.20867/thm.31.4.4
Investigating source credibility for travel planning on Facebook groups
Ana Čuić Tanković
; hD, Associate Professor, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Croatia
*
Jelena Kapeš
; MA, PhD student University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Croatia
Antonia Fućak
; MA, graduated student University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Purpose – This research explores the underexamined media-related factors influencing source
credibility and its relationship with the intention to use Facebook groups for travel planning.
It aims to investigate social media preferences, attitudes, and perceived privacy control as
predictors of perceived source credibility (source expertise and trustworthiness) and their
impact on the intention to use Facebook for travel planning.
Design – To better understand the influence source credibility for travel planning on Facebook
groups, an extensive literature review was followed by primary research using a survey method.
Methodology – A structured questionnaire, based on previous studies, was distributed via
Facebook, collecting data from 207 respondents. Partial least squares structural equation
modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to examine the relationships between variables.
Findings – Results suggest that preferences and attitudes towards social media significantly
predict perceived source expertise and trustworthiness. Perceived privacy control is significantly
linked only to perceived source trustworthiness. Both perceived source expertise and
trustworthiness are significant predictors of the intention to use Facebook for travel planning.
Originality of the research – This study investigates specific media-related perceptions of
consumers that have not been empirically tested before. It also includes the concept of perceived
privacy control, which has not been used in existing studies from the source credibility perspective.
Keywords
Facebook groups, Source Credibility, Travel Planning, Attitudes, Preferences, Privacy control
Hrčak ID:
340326
URI
Publication date:
4.12.2025.
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