Psychology of Tourism - Lecture notes 1 PDF

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Chapter 1The Psychology Of TourismA. Motivation for Travel Several studies in tourist motivations have listed various reasons why people travel. Some are the motivations listed in travel literature are: 1. Escape 11. Convincing oneself of one’s achievement 2. Relaxation 12. Showing one’s importance ...

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Chapter 1 The Psychology Of Tourism A. Motivation for Travel Several studies in tourist motivations have listed various reasons why people travel. Some are the motivations listed in travel literature are: 1. Escape 11. Convincing oneself of one’s achievement 2. Relaxation 12. Showing one’s importance to others 3. Relief of tension 13. Status and prestige 4. Sunlust 14. Self-discovery 5. Physical 15. Cultural 6. Health 16. Education 7. Family togetherness 17. Proffesional/ Business 8. Interpersonal relations 18. Wanderlust 9. Roots or ethnic 19. Interest in foreign areas 10. Maintaining social contacts 20. Scenery Four classes of Basic Travel Motivators: 1. Physical motivators- motivators directly connected with health (physical rest, sports participation, beach recreation, entertainment) 2. Cultural motivators- desires to know about the culture (such as music, arts, folklore, dances, religion, etc.) of the other country. 3. Interpersonal motivators- to meet other people (visit friends or relatives) 4. Status and prestige- concern ego needs and personal development (trips related to business, conventions, study, and pursuit of hobbies and education. B. Travel as a Means to Satisfy a Need and Want- travel as a vehicle to satisfy one’s needs and wants. Tourist do not go on vacations just to relax and fun, to experience another culture or to educate themselves. C. Relationship of Needs, Wants, and Motives- it is the duty of people involved in marketing to convert need into wants by making the individual aware of his need deficiencies. Motivation occurs when an individual wants to satisfy a need. To enable a person to be motivated to satisfy a need, an objective or goal must be present. Push/Pull Model- internal factors or personal needs “push” people to travel, while external forces or attractions “pull” them to certain destination. Push factors are the intangible desires (need to escape, self-discovery, rest and relaxation, prestige, challenge and adventure). Pull factors are the external travel stimulators (scenic beauty, historical areas, cultural events, and sporting events) Maslow’s Theory of Motivation and Travel Motivation- hierarchy of needs as determinants of behavior (proposed by Abraham Maslow a famous psychologist) 1. Psychological Needs- hunger, thirst, rest, activity (food, drinks, rest, shelter) 2. Safety Needs- safety and security, freedom from fear and anxiety (protection against physical or mental danger)

3. Social Needs- love, affection, giving and receiving (love, belongingness, acceptance) 4. Self-esteem- self-respect and esteem from others (self-confidence, recognition) 5. Self-Actualization- personal fulfillment (realizing one’s potential) (Maslow’s Hierachy of Needs) TOURIST MOTIVATIONS A. The need for escape or change According to Russ Johnston, a marketer research director, everyone is searching for change. Travel can provide diversity. It removes a person from familiar surroundings nto something that is new and exciting. B. Travel for health Development in the field of medicine has influenced travel for centuries, giving rise to the concept of health tourism. C. Sports People demand activity and excitement during their leisure hours to relieve them from the boredom of their work. ( hiking, surfing, scuba diving, mountaineering, skiing and other activity games such basketball, valleyball and etc.) D. Social Contact Travel grows out of the social nature of people. Human beings are social animals. They need to contact and communication with others. They feel comfortable in a tour group. E. Status and Prestige Ego and enhancement. Travel to a poor country can provide a traveler with a feeling of superiority. Mingling with the wealthy and social elite. F. Travel for Education Search for knowledge and truth is inherent in every individual. Travel offers an opportunity to satisfy the urge learn. G. Personal Values The notion of personal values in an important travel motivator. Urged to travel to satisfy personal values ( spiritual experience, patriotism, wholesomeness) H. Cultural Experience Experiencing how other people live, and fostering international understanding are some of the reasons to satisfy curiosity about other cultures, lifestyles and places. I. Shopping and Bargain Hunting The joys derived from buying certain goods may be the major reason for travel. J. Professional and Business Motives People trabel for professional and business motives. Conferences and conventions about education, commerce, and industry increase annually. K. Search for Natural Beauty Travel can satisfy one’s search for beauty in the environment and in the scenery. ( sunset, trees, mountains, waterfalls, flowers, beaches, valley, bays, rivers, and lakes )

Classification of Travelers Based on Purpose of Travel- the travelers and the pleasure/ personal travelers. A. Business travelers- base on travel purposes Regular Business Traveler- business travelerswill continueeven if the price of the travel increase. Business Travlers Attending Meetings, Conventions, Congresses- regular fomalized meeting of associations or body or a meeting sponsored by an association or body on a regular or ad hoc basis. Imcentives Travels- a special type of business travel. It is given by firms to employees as a reward for some accomplishments or to encourage employees to achieve more than what is required. B. Pleasure/Personal Travelers- this group consists of people dor traveling for vacation or pleasure. Resort Travelers- are better educated, have higher household incomes, and ade more likely to have professional and manegerial positions. Family Pleasure Travels-this is divided into 3 goups junior family (20-34y/o), midrange family(35-44y/o), mature family (45 or over). Thi is motivated into 3 objectives to use travel as an eduvational experience for their children, to do something different and to use travel to bring the gamily closer together. The Elderly- persons in the 50 plus age bracket are called active affluent or people with the money and the desire to travel extensively. Singles and Couples- this take a vacation to fulfill their psychological, intellectual, and physical needs by giving them opportunity to rest, relax, escape the routine of pressures of daily living, enjoy the naturalness of life,and to express total freedom. Travel Constraints 1. Lack of money- major travel constraint. Less money means less travel. 2. Lack of time- time is another inhibiting factor to tourist travel. 3. Lack of safety and security- in public places, hotels and travel centers cause people to prefer the remain in the security of their neighborhood at home. 4. Physical disability- the form of bad health or physical handicap may keep people at home. 5. Family commitments- inhibit travel. Parents with young children find it inconvenient and expensive to gon on holidays. 6. Lack of interest in travel- this is mainly due to a preference to simply stay at home. 7. Fears of travel- fear of flying is quite common and accounts for many people who insist on driving to a vacationarea instead of boarding a plane.

Allocentrics- highly adventurous and curious and have strong desire for new and varied experiences. Club mediterrance- most popular travel club in Western Europe then spread to northen America Aesthetics- appreciation of beauty Self-actualization- personal self-fulfillment Midcentrics- midrange between allocentrics and psychocentrics. Psychocentrics- traveler who are not adventurous...