Abstract
This paper clarifies relationships between tourists’ information-acquisition intentions and information senders’ intentions behind smartphone application information and tourist behaviors. We analyzed data from participant observations of Chinese university students as inbound tourists to Japan, dividing behaviors into four typical patterns. Guided- and verification-type behaviors start with unclear pull factor, gathering subjective information such as word-of-mouth and travelogue from smartphone applications. Those who have guided-type behaviors uncritically accept the information, guided by information senders to their recommended places. Verification-type behaviors include critically scrutinizing the information. Active-type behaviors start from clear push and
pull factors; such participants use proper nouns in information searching and make rational choices from objective information such as time and location. Intermediate-type behaviors start from unclear pull factor regarding proper nouns, leading to rational choices.
