Which search queries are more powerful in tourism demand forecasting: searches via mobile device or PC?

Search queries from personal computers (PCs) significantly enhance tourism demand forecasting accuracy compared to those from mobile devices or aggregated data, according to a study analyzing search behavior at UNESCO World Heritage Site Kulangsu and Mount Siguniang geopark in China. The research decomposed Baidu search volumes by terminal type—mobile vs. PC—and found that models using PC-generated queries outperformed others, while multi-terminal approaches did not consistently improve predictions. This insight offers tourism industry stakeholders a data-driven strategy for refining demand forecasting, with practical implications for operational planning and decision-making.

Hu, M., Xiao, M., & Li, H. (2021). Which search queries are more powerful in tourism demand forecasting: searches via mobile device or PC? International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 33(6), 2022–2043. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijchm-06-2020-0559