Customer Experience Satisfaction with Online Travel Agencies and Its Role in Promoting Sustainable Tourism Practices

Authors

  • Aparna Dhingra Asst Professor ,Shri Ram Institute of Management
  • Vipul Sharma Asst Professor ,Shri Ram Institute of Management

Keywords:

Customer Experience Satisfaction, Online Travel Agencies (otas), Sustainable Tourism Practices, Service Quality, Customer Loyalty

Abstract

The rapid expansion of online travel agencies (OTAs) has transformed tourism service delivery by positioning digital platforms as key intermediaries in travel planning and booking. The present study examines customer experience satisfaction with online travel agencies and analyzes its implications for sustainable tourism and sustainable management.
The study adopts a quantitative, cross-sectional research design and collects primary data through a structured questionnaire administered to OTA users. Graphical method is employed for data analysis to interpret customer perceptions related to platform experience, sustainability-oriented management practices, trust, loyalty, and behavioral intention. The findings indicate that customers generally exhibit high levels of experience satisfaction and positive perceptions of ethical and sustainable practices adopted by online travel agencies. Furthermore, the study contributes to the sustainable tourism literature by highlighting the role of sustainability-driven digital platforms in fostering long-term customer relationships and supporting sustainable tourism development.

References

[1]

Afraah, S. M., Aghniya, Z. P., & Artanto, B. ( 2026). Development of the E-SERVQUAL model for online travel agents. Jurnal Sistem Teknik Industri, 27(1), 45–57.

[2]

Agag, G., & El-Masry, A. A. (2016). Understanding consumer intention to participate in online travel community and effects on consumer intention to purchase travel online and WOM. Tourism Management, 53, 153–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2015.09.004

[3]

Bhatia, A., & Verma, R. (2024). Online travel agencies as enablers of responsible tourism behavior: Evidence from Indian millennials. Tourism Management Perspectives, 50, 101123.

[4]

Bramwell, B., Higham, J., Lane, B., & Miller, G. (2017). Twenty-five years of sustainable tourism and the Journal of Sustainable Tourism: Looking back and moving forward. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 25(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2017.1251689

[5]

Font, X., Elgammal, I., & Lamond, I. (2017). Greenwashing: The deliberate under communicating of sustainability practices by tourism businesses. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 25(7), 1007–1023. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2016.115882

[6]

García-Milon, A., Juaneda-Ayensa, E., & Olarte-Pascual, C. (2024). Digital intermediaries and sustainable tourism behavior. Tourism Management, 96, 104695.

[7]

Garcia, G. M., Dos Anjos, S. J. G., & Doğan, S. (2022). Online travel agencies and their role in the tourism industry. Journal of Tourism Studies. [8]

Gössling, S., Hall, C. M., & Scott, D. (2012). Tourism and water: Interactions, impacts and challenges. Channel View Publications.

[9]

Gössling, S., Scott, D., & Hall, C. M. (2015). Inter-market variability in CO₂ emission intensities in tourism: Implications for destination marketing and carbon management. Tourism Management, 46, 203–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2014.06.021

[10]

Han, H., Hsu, L. T. J., & Sheu, C. (2017). Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior to green hotel choice: Testing the effect of environmental friendly activities. Tourism Management, 33(2), 351–361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2011.03.013

[11]

Huang, C. C., Chen, S. J., & Lin, W. Y. (2017). The impact of customer experience on loyalty: A tourism context. Service Industries Journal, 37(13–14), 853–871. https://doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2017.1366095

[12]

Jacob, B. S., Rani, M. R., & T, K. T. (2023). Customer engagement of online travel agencies for sustainable tourism development. Tourism Management Perspectives.

[13]

Lien, C. H., Wen, M. J., Huang, L. C., & Wu, K. L. (2015). Online hotel booking: The effects of brand image, price, trust and value on purchase intentions. Asia Pacific Management Review, 20(4), 210–218.

[14]

Nurhadewa, K., Setiawan, A., & Djajadikerta, H. (2024). Customer satisfaction in online travel agencies: A literature review. Jurnal Ekonomika dan Bisnis, 11(3), 233–245.

[15]

OAG. (2022). Online travel agencies and sustainable travel. Future of Travel Report.

[16]

Oktaviani, D., Sarwoko, S., & Sulistiyo, T. D. ( 2026). Value co-creation and loyalty in OTA ecosystems. Jurnal Pariwisata, 12(1), 1–14.

[17]

Paul, J., Modi, A., & Patel, J. (2022). Predicting green travel behavior: The role of attitude, satisfaction, and subjective norms in India. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 30(8), 1814–1833.

[18]

Rani, M., Rather, R. A., & Hollebeek, L. D. (2024). Technology-enabled customer experience and sustainable tourism adoption in India. Journal of Business Research, 172, 114458.

[19]

Rather, R. A. (2018). Customer experience, memory, satisfaction and loyalty in ecotourism. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 35(8), 1092–1106. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2018.1445060

[20]

Sharma, P., & Bansal, R. (2024). Entrepreneurial orientation, digital innovation, and sustainability performance of tourism startups in India. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 198, 122012.

[21]

Sigala, M. (2018). Social media and customer engagement in the context of sustainable tourism. Tourism Management Perspectives, 26, 45–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2017.12.003

[22]

Singh, R. P., Khan, M. S., & Alexandra, Y. ( 2026). The mediating role of e-customer satisfaction in shaping e-customer loyalty. Asian Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, 8(1), 22–35. [23]

Su, W. (2024). Influence of service quality of online travel websites on customer satisfaction. Frontiers in Economics and Management, 5(2), 88–101.

[24]

Su, X., & Zhang, G. (2023). Travel website quality, customer satisfaction, and purchase intention. Sustainability, 15(10), 8225.

[25]

Sweeney, J. C., Soutar, G. N., & Mazzarol, T. (2022). Customer value and ethical consumption in digital tourism. Journal of Travel Research, 61(8), 1793–1809.

[26]

Talwar, S., Dhir, A., Singh, D., Virk, G. S., & Salo, J. (2020). Why do people purchase from online travel agencies? Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 54, 102028.

[27]

Verma, S., Chandra, B., & Kumar, S. (2024). Millennial travelers’ satisfaction with online travel platforms and sustainable travel intentions in India. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, 15(1), 89–105.

[28]

Wang, L., Law, R., & Zhang, M. (2022). The impact of online trust and satisfaction on green hotel booking intentions. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 102, 103167.

Downloads

Published

2026-03-18

How to Cite

[1]
Aparna Dhingra and Vipul Sharma 2026. Customer Experience Satisfaction with Online Travel Agencies and Its Role in Promoting Sustainable Tourism Practices. AG Volumes. (Mar. 2026), 218–232.