Sociology of Tourism Module 2 PDF

College of Hospitality Management First Semester, A.Y. 2024-2025 MODULE 2 The Sociology of Tourism A. The social nature of travel B. The s...

College of Hospitality Management First Semester, A.Y. 2024-2025 MODULE 2 The Sociology of Tourism A. The social nature of travel B. The social effects of tourism C. Variables and their effect on travel D. The rise of new travel patterns preferences of the international tourist E. Types of tourist roles F. Social tourism Introduction This module entitled The Sociology of Tourism is about the study of touristic motivations, roles, relationships, and institutions and of their impact on tourists and on the societies who receive them. Sociology of tourism is concerned with the relations between tourists as types, and the structuring, function and consequences of the tourist system in general. The sociology of tourism has been a significant area of academic study for many years relations between tourists and local people. Date and Time Allotment Week 3 I. Objectives At the end of the end of this module, students should be able to: 1. Explain the social nature of travel 2. Describe the social effects of tourism 3. Discuss the socioeconomic variables and their effect on travel 4. Describe the new travel patterns 5. Explain the preferences for the international tourist 6. Describe the types of tourist roles 7. Explain the meaning of social tourism II. Lecture The Social Nature of Travel Travel is brought about by the social nature of man. Human beings, as social animals, feel comfortable in a tour group. They feel that their trip is more enjoyable and free from anxiety if they join a group tour. Camaraderie often develops friendships that last for years. In some subcultures, travel is the accepted way of spending one’s vacation. Sabbatical leaves and foreign assignments make it possible for university faculty members and employees to travel and develop a passion for it. The Social Effects of Tourism Tourism is concerned with the movement and contact between people in different geographical locations. In sociological terms, this involves: 1. Social relations between people who would not normally meet 2. The confrontation of different cultures, ethnic groups, lifestyles, languages, levels of prosperity 3. The behavior of people released from many of the social and economic constraints of everyday life 4. The behavior of the host population which has to reconcile economic gain and benefits with costs of living with strangers. The Socioeconomic Variables and Their Effect on Travel a. Age- There are several differences between patterns of travel based on age. Younger people tend to select more active recreational activities than older people. The elderly (those in late sixties and upward) prefer more passive forms of recreation, such a visiting friends and relatives, fishing, sightseeing, and playing golf. b. Income and social status- rich persons, as well as persons with higher social status, travel more than those with lower income and social class status. c. Education-there is a strong correlation between education and travel. Generally speaking, the better educated members of population have a greater desire to travel. d. Life stages of the family-the presence of children in the family limits travel. More leisure time is spent at home. As the children grow up and leave home, the married couples renew interest in travel. Couples in this life stage usually have more discretionary income and more financially capable to travel. The Rise of New Travel Patterns A. Travel Clubs-the most significant development in group travel consist of travel clubs. B. Airline Group and Arrangements  Another development in group travel is introduction of different types of tour fares promoted by airlines. These are the following: 1. Groups of 15 or more are given reduced fares 2. Charter service is given by some airlines to affinity group tours which are intended for those affiliated to a legitimate group for a period of six months or longer. 3. Pubic charter in which an entire airplane is made available to a group of persons who travel to the same destination 4. Incentive tours which are given by firms to employees as a reward for a special achievement or a motivation for achievement. C. Special Interest Tours-these are tours arranged for those who are interested in a particular activity such as bird watching, festivals, fishing, hunting, scuba diving, photography, flower arrangement, golf, skiing, mountain climbing and the like. Preferences of the International Tourist The preferences of the international tourist are divided into four categories, namely: 1. Complete relaxation to constant activity 2. Traveling near one’s home environment to a totally strange environment 3. Complete dependence on a group travel to travelling alone 4. Order to disorder A. Relaxation versus activity- before, the workweek for most people including the middle class was long and exhausting. Thus, they demanded holidays that offered relaxation and rest. B. Familiarity versus novelty-in general, most tourist on their first trip abroad to seek familiarity rather than novelty. They search for something that will remind them of home, whether it be food, newspapers, living quarters, or another person from their own country. C. Dependence versus autonomy-in the past, tourist joined package tours in which transportation, lodging, food, sightseeing, and entertainment were fixed in advance by the tour agency. At present, there is the emergence of a group of tourist who would like to acquire a sense of personal autonomy regarding their leisure time. They would like to travel on their own and not part of a group. They would like to feel independent- in complete control of what they do and how they do it. D. Order versus disorder-in the past, tourist sought holidays which enforce the traditional concept of conformity-set meals at fixed times, guidebooks which told them the right places to visit, and resorts where their fellow tourist were tidy, well-behaved, and properly dressed. Now, the new  generation of tourist is not very much concerned about what to wear and how to behave when on holiday. Types of Tourist Roles a. The Organized Mass Tourist-this type of tourist is the least adventurous. He/she buys a package tour in which the itinerary of his/her trip is fixed in advance and his/her stops are well- prepared and guided. He/she prefers a familiar environment rather than a new environment. b. The Individual Mass Tourist-is similar to the organized mass tourist, except that individual mass tourist has a certain degree of control over his time and itinerary and is not bound to a group. c. The Explorer-the type of tourist arranges his trip by himself and looks for comfortable accommodations and reliable means of transportation. d. The Drifter-the drifter goes the farthest away from the accustomed ways of life of his own country. He does not have a fixed itinerary. He arranges his own trip and does not seek the help of a tour agency. Social Tourism-is subsidized system of travel through the intervention of the government, employer, or labor union to achieve social goals.