Unraveling Attendees' Needs: A Comparative Study of Online and On-site Participation in International Conferences in the post-Corona Era

Authors

  • Hidekazu Iwamoto Josai Internatinal University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52731/lbds.003.133

Keywords:

MICE, tourism resources, convention business, questionnaire survey

Abstract

Hybrid conferences, which offer both options, are becoming popular but may present challenges such as inequality of experience and reduced engagement for online participants. This study aims to identify the differences in the needs of attendees who prefer online or onsite participation in international conferences during the post-Corona era. Online questionnaire survey was conducted to attendees at three international conferences. Respondents were asked about reasons for attending conventions and their expected tourism resources. The results of the questionnaire survey are measured on a 5-point Likert scale and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney's U test, and logistic regression to identify differences in needs among respondents. The results show that online participants prioritize presentations to advance their research and career, while onsite participants put on the values of both career advancement and interaction with other participants.

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Published

2023-09-12