The effects of online social networking on retail consumer dynamics in the attractions industry: The case of 'E-da' theme park, Taiwan

- Examines the relationships between the online experience factors and social networking
- Highlights the pivotal role of perception and use of a social networking platform in online retailing
- Provides practical recommendations for supporting online retailing in the amusement industry

Purpose of this study is to examine the trends in retail consumers' consumption dynamics and patterns of purchase behavior within this new-technology-mediated environment. A behavioral purchase model was developed and tested to understand the ways social networks influence the decision making of individuals planning to visit a theme park. In particular, the proposed model delineates how online social networking (OSN) experience factors affect actual use (AU) of social media for purchasing of theme park services through an assessment of perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU). An electronic survey was conducted with members of a theme park's brand fan page on the Facebook social media site namely, the E-da World theme park in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung. Smart PLS 3, a partial least squares analysis, was employed to examine a series of eleven research hypotheses. The findings revealed a series of statistically significant influences from five exogenous variables on PU and PEOU, as well as the mediating role of PU on the PEOU-AU relationship. The results also provide important practical implications both for academics and practitioners by shedding light on the way social media works to encourage and support online purchasing of amusement services.