SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES IN TOURISM
Motivations
Most of the tourists travel for change of environment because of which new concepts
of tourism like eco-tourism, rural tourism have come into existence. Cultural
attractions, education, gaining knowledge about new cultures might be other important
motivations. For example attraction towards Buddhist culture has made Myanmar and
some parts of North East India a major hub for Buddhist tourists from all around the
world. People from all around the world travel to these places to get experience the
Buddhist spirit. There can be other motivations also like quest for new experience,
personal visits etc.
Some of the most prevalent theories of destination development and classification of
tourists
Some scholars have tried to classify the tourist on the basis of their needs, which
explains the reason for their travel. For example a tourist can be classified as explorer,
elite, offbeat, unusual, mass or charter on the basis of his/her demand.
While an explorer tourist group will want discovery, adventure, exploration, an elite
tourist might have a special personally customized tailored trip to any exotic places.
Or for example an offbeat tourist might travel to get away from the crowds.
The classification according to demand describes the main purpose of travel. There
can be a pure mass group also under the demand-based classification where the tourist
might prefer normal tour packages and holiday trips to conventional places.
Thus classification on the basis of demand to a large extent determines the needs and
the activities of the tourists.
There can also be classification on the basis of the meaning and requirement, where
tourists might travel for the sake of simple recreation, diversion, experiential,
experimental reasons. There can be also motivational based classification.
Understanding the motive behind traveling might help to predict consumer psyche.
An American researcher named Plog put forth his theory based on the psychology of
tourists and these were published in 1973. Plog's theory was based on a case study
conducted on New York residents and their attitudes to travel.
Plog discussed the tourist behavior and motivations based on the psychology of the
tourists. Thus there are two types of tourists, the allo-centric and psycho-centric types
of tourist. He argued that there are particular psychological types who do not like
unfamiliar environments or cultures, so when they select a holiday they will seek the
familiar regions than unfamiliar remote regions (these he termed psycho-centric).
Plog further added that there are still some groups in society who will be prepared to
risk a far more uncertain holiday destination. These tourists will search for strange or
unfamiliar and these he termed allo-centric.
SOCIOLOGY AND CROSS-CULTURAL ISSUES LECTURE NOTES JAN – APR
2017
Motivations
Most of the tourists travel for change of environment because of which new concepts
of tourism like eco-tourism, rural tourism have come into existence. Cultural
attractions, education, gaining knowledge about new cultures might be other important
motivations. For example attraction towards Buddhist culture has made Myanmar and
some parts of North East India a major hub for Buddhist tourists from all around the
world. People from all around the world travel to these places to get experience the
Buddhist spirit. There can be other motivations also like quest for new experience,
personal visits etc.
Some of the most prevalent theories of destination development and classification of
tourists
Some scholars have tried to classify the tourist on the basis of their needs, which
explains the reason for their travel. For example a tourist can be classified as explorer,
elite, offbeat, unusual, mass or charter on the basis of his/her demand.
While an explorer tourist group will want discovery, adventure, exploration, an elite
tourist might have a special personally customized tailored trip to any exotic places.
Or for example an offbeat tourist might travel to get away from the crowds.
The classification according to demand describes the main purpose of travel. There
can be a pure mass group also under the demand-based classification where the tourist
might prefer normal tour packages and holiday trips to conventional places.
Thus classification on the basis of demand to a large extent determines the needs and
the activities of the tourists.
There can also be classification on the basis of the meaning and requirement, where
tourists might travel for the sake of simple recreation, diversion, experiential,
experimental reasons. There can be also motivational based classification.
Understanding the motive behind traveling might help to predict consumer psyche.
An American researcher named Plog put forth his theory based on the psychology of
tourists and these were published in 1973. Plog's theory was based on a case study
conducted on New York residents and their attitudes to travel.
Plog discussed the tourist behavior and motivations based on the psychology of the
tourists. Thus there are two types of tourists, the allo-centric and psycho-centric types
of tourist. He argued that there are particular psychological types who do not like
unfamiliar environments or cultures, so when they select a holiday they will seek the
familiar regions than unfamiliar remote regions (these he termed psycho-centric).
Plog further added that there are still some groups in society who will be prepared to
risk a far more uncertain holiday destination. These tourists will search for strange or
unfamiliar and these he termed allo-centric.
SOCIOLOGY AND CROSS-CULTURAL ISSUES LECTURE NOTES JAN – APR
2017
