Why And When People

Travel

Why And When People

TravelBy Beth Pitts

Psychological Factors Affecting Travel Choices

Prestige

Escape

Education

Social Interaction

Family Bonding

Self-Discovery

Respect and admiration resulting from high quality. Travel to choice destinations can provide a traveler with a level of fame, if only in the mind of the traveler.

Hollywood—Rodeo Drive

Prestige

The desire to leave the daily routine of one’s life

Beaches—Hilton Head, SC

Caribbean—St. Thomas

Escape

Education

•Travel is viewed as broadening.

•Historical sites are popular

Social Interaction

Travel provides opportunities to meet and interact with new and different

people.

Family Bonding

•Grandparents’ homes

•Heritage/roots—Family reunions, weddings, funerals

Relaxation

•A time to play and unwind

•Attractions

•Festivals

Self-Discovery

•“Finding oneself”

•Beauty, nature and national parks—camping, hiking

•Holistic vacations—Yoga retreats

Basic Travel Motivators•Physical or relaxation motivator

•Cultural motivator

•Interpersonal motivator

•Status and prestige motivator

Physical or

Relaxation Motivator

•Physical rest

•Sporting as a spectator or participant

•Examples: running, lounging in the sun, vacationing alone

Cultural

Motivator

•The desire for knowledge of other regions or countries

•Religion, one of the first motivators of travel

•Music

•Art

•Dances

Interpersonal

Motivator

•Meet new people

•Make new friends

•Visit friends or relatives

•Escape from the daily routine

Status and Prestige Motivator

•Desire for recognition, attention, appreciation and a good reputation

•Major accomplishments, an award recipient, travel to currently popular destinations

Factors That Influence Destination Choices

Total cost of trip

Climate for comfort

Purchase opportunities

Word-of-Mouth

Entertainment

Recommendations

Other Amenities

Seasonal Nature

of Tourism

•Peak period (high season)

•Off-peak period (low season)

•Shoulder season

Peak Period (High Season)

Time when the destination is most desirable either for

climatic reasons or because of some special event

•Prices are high.

•Demand is high.

•This is a popular travel time.

Off-Peak Period (Low Season)

Period or season when traffic volume or

occupancy is not heavy

•Traffic is usually low for an identifiable reason.

•Prices are reduced.

•Demand is low.

Shoulder Season

The period between peak and off-peak seasons. Shoulder seasons are

attractive to people who do not need to travel during peak holiday

months.

Factors Affecting Timing of the Peak/Off-Peak Period

•Location and season of the destination and/or facility

•Type of facility or business