The accuracy and consistency of Chinese tourism information in online media vs. actual data: Songkhla province
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Abstract
Songkhla Province attracts many Malaysian Chinese Tourists who typically gather information via online platforms before visiting. This research poses the question: Is the Chinese language information recommending tourist attractions in Songkhla accurate and authentic? It aims to analyze the accuracy and consistency of Chinese tourism information of Songkhla province in online media vs. actual media. This study employed a qualitative methodology and investigated data from two online media sources, which included 15 tourist attractions. The analysis was conducted from a comparative perspective and drew upon correspondence theory of truth. The findings found that the consistency between Chinese tourism information in online media and the actual data of Songkhla province divided into three aspects, including: (1) Consistency information (i.e., the geographical locations and core characteristics); (2) Inconsistency information (e.g., location and size detail, folklore legend, style and elements of architecture); (3) Incorrect information (i.e., the English word in parentheses, and recommend other attractions that are unrelated). The finding highlights the need to improve the accuracy and relevance of online tourism information about Songkhla to enhance digital communication and foster a more informed, and contextually grounded tourism discourse. This study also proposed the possible development opportunities and the optimization recommendations.
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