Couch surfing and the Tourist Experience Value of its members
Author
Bogdan, Moldoveanu
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2017
Submitted on
2017-05-31
Pages
108
Abstract
This thesis explores how Couchsurfing, as a social hospitality network, creates and shapes tourists’ experience value. The introduction outlines the platform’s gift economy, profile and interaction features, trust and reference system, anti-dating policy, and community events and online hangouts. Motivated by the platform’s growing reach and the author’s own user experience, the study focuses on why travelers choose Couchsurfing over alternatives, which strategies and features differentiate it, and how experience value can be enhanced through three dimensions: trust-building among members, the practicality of the site compared with similar platforms, and cultural exchange in return for free accommodation. The proposed methodology adopts a mixed-methods design combining a written survey with qualitative data collection, and the analysis is organized around the three themes for both quantitative and qualitative strands. Findings and conclusions are presented in later chapters and are not included in this excerpt.
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan Couchsurfing som socialt gæstfrihedsnetværk skaber og påvirker turisters oplevelsesværdi. I introduktionen beskrives platformens gaveøkonomi, profil- og interaktionsfunktioner, tillids- og referencesystem, regler mod dating, samt fællesarrangementer og online hangouts. Forfatteren motiverer emnet gennem den digitale platforms voksende udbredelse og egen brugererfaring, og formulerer et forskningsfokus på, hvorfor rejsende vælger Couchsurfing frem for alternativer, hvilke strategier og funktioner der differentierer siden, og hvordan oplevelsesværdien kan øges via tre hoveddimensioner: tillidsopbygning mellem medlemmer, platformens praktikalitet sammenlignet med lignende websites samt kulturel udveksling i bytte for gratis overnatning. Ifølge den skitserede metode anvendes et mixed-methods design med et skriftligt spørgeskema og kvalitative dataindsamlinger, og analysen er struktureret omkring de tre temaer for både kvantitative og kvalitative data. Resultater og konklusioner præsenteres i senere kapitler og fremgår ikke af dette uddrag.
[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]
Keywords