Microperspective in Tourism and Hospitality PDF

Microperspective in Tourism and Hospitality CHAPTER 1: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF TOURISM  At the end of the discussion, students will be able to: Know the different factors that motivate people to travel Explain the relationship of needs, wants and motives to tourist motivation Describe the push...

Microperspective in Tourism and Hospitality CHAPTER 1: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF TOURISM  At the end of the discussion, students will be able to: Know the different factors that motivate people to travel Explain the relationship of needs, wants and motives to tourist motivation Describe the push/pull model Explain the relation between Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and the travel motivations listed in travel literature's Describe the characteristics of psychocentrics and allocentrics; Describe the characteristics of travelers based on purpose of travel and; Analyze the travel constraints  IMPORTANT KEY POINT The Psychology of Tourism Maslow’s Theory of Motivation and Travel Motivation Tourist Motivations Classifications of Travelers based on Purpose of Travel Travel Constraints Psychology of Tourism Psychology of Tourism It is the understanding of clients´ motivation to visit particular destinations, use available services, clients' needs and satisfaction. Psychology studies clients' b e h a v i o u r, t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e a n d relationship. Psychology of Tourism A. Motivation for Travel B. Travel as a means to satisfy a need and want C. Relationship of needs, wants, and motives A. Motivation for Travel People want to see new places, experience different cultures, learn new skills, or gain new insights. Traveling can stimulate the brain, enhance creativity, and broaden horizons. It can als o h elp people to appreciate div ers ity, understand history, and discover themselves. Basic travel motivators can be divided into four classes: 1.PHYSICAL MOTIVATORS 2.CULTURAL MOTIVATORS 3.INTERPERSONAL MOTIVATORS 4.STATUS AND PRESTIGE MOTIVATORS I. Physical Motivators Include those related to physical rest, sports participation, beach recreation, relaxing enter tainment, and other motivations directly connected with health. ll. Cultural Motivators Include the desire to know about other countries- their music, art, folklore, dances, paintings and religion; lll. Interpersonal Motivators Pertain to the desire to meet other people, visit friend or relatives, escape f r o m r o u t i n e , f r o m f a m i l y, a n d neighbors. IV. Status and Prestige Motivators Concern ego needs and personal development. Included in this group are related to business, convention, study and pursuit of hobbies and education. B. Travel as a means to Satisfy a Need and Want The key to understand tourist motivation is to view vacation travel as a vehicle to satisfy one’s n eeds an d wan ts. Tou r i s ts do n ot go on vacations just to their children, they take vacations in the belief that these vacations will satisfy, either completely or partially, various needs and wants. C. Relationship of Needs, Wants, and Motives Needs: Something that is necessary to survive, like traveling for work or school Wants: Something that a person desires, like taking a vacation Motives: The reason why a person wants to travel, like finishing a bucket list  Push/Pull Model The push/pull model explains the push and pull forces in human motivation. According to the push/pull model, there are push and pull forces in human motivation. Internal factors or personal needs “push” people to travel, while external forces “pull” them to certain destinations. Push--Pull Model PUSH FACTORS PULL FACTORS (Intangible) (Tangible) Fulfilling Prestige Events and Activities Enhancing Relation History and Culture Seeking Relaxation Adventure Enhancing Social Circle Natural Resources Sightseeing Variety Marketing Efforts Fulfilling Spiritual Needs TOURISTS MOTIVATIONS A. The Need for Escape or Change The greatest reason for travel can be summed up in one word, "escape" - escape from the dull daily routine; escape from the familiar, the commonplace, the ordinary escape from the job, the boss, the customers, the house, and the accelerated pace of modern life. B. Travel for Health Development in the f ield of medicine has inf lu enced travel for centuries, giving rise to the concept of health tourism. The search for health and long life has popularized spas, seaside resorts, as well as sun resorts. Majority of people think of vacationing as a means of regaining one's energy, interest, and enthusiasm for the job. C. Sports Interest in sports, either as a participant or a spectator, is attracting large segments of the population. People demand activity and excitement during their leisure hours to relieve them from the boredom of their work. D. Social Contact Much travel grows out of the social nature of people. Human beings are social animals. They need contact and communication with others. They feel comfortable in a tour group. In the group, the traveler may develop friendships that may last for years. E. Status and Prestige Travel provides the means for ego and self-enhancement. Travel to a poor country can provide the traveler with a feeling of superiority. Travel can also provide a means of mingling with the wealthy and social elite.  F. Travel for Education The search for knowledge and truth is inherent in every individual. Travel offers an opportunity to satisfy the urge to learn. Once an interest has been developed in a destination area, the urge to see that area emerges and the interest grows as knowledge increases. G. Personal Values The notion of personal values is an important travel motivator. Many people are urged to travel to satisfy personal values, such as the search for spiritual experience, patriotism, and wholesomeness. H. Cultural Experience Cross-cultural exchanges, 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 Hopping Bargain hunting or being able to get special merchandise at a low cost is a travel motivator. Tourists are looking for places that are inexpensive. They shop not only on the trip but also for a particular trip. J. Professional and Business Motives A great number of people travel 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. Natural beauty such as the sunset, trees, mountains, waterfalls, f lowers, beaches, valleys, bays, rivers, and lakes is usually pleasurable to the viewer. Most people are inspired by the beauty of nature. Classification of Travelers Based on Purpose of Travel: The two major classif ication of travelers based on travel are the business travellers and the pleasure/personal travelers. Business Travelers Pleasure/Personal Travelers A. Business Travelers They are divided into three categories, namely: 1.Regular business travelers 2.Business travelers attending meetings, conventions and congress 3.Incentive travelers Regular Business Travelers Among business travelers, the cost of the trip is shouldered by a company, hence, travel is not inf luenced by personal income. The volume and rate of growth business travel is not greatly affected by the cost of travel. This means that business travelers will continue even if the price of travel services increases.  Business Travelers Travel Pulse surveys indicate that 20% of all business travel trips are for the purpose of attending meetings, conventions, and congresses. A congress, convention, or conference is a regular formalized meeting of associations or body or a meeting sponsored by an association or body on a regular or ad hoc basis.  Incentive Travelers Incentive travel is a special type of business travel. It is travel given by f ir ms to employees as a reward for some accomplishment or to encourage employees to achieve more than what is required. Incentive trips have risen sharply according to the Society of Incentive Travel Executive (SITE). B. Pleasure/Personal Travelers This group consists of people traveling for vacation or pleasure. They are also called non business travelers. Experiences and research have shown that nonbusiness travelers have different spending patterns from business travelers. The reasons for the growth are the rising income levels in developed countries, urbanization, higher educational levels, increase in leisure time, and the length of paid holidays. Pleasure/personal travelers are classified into the following categories: 1. resort travelers; 2. family pleasure travelers; 3. the elderly; and 4. singles and couples Travel Constraints The main constraints to travel are: 1. lack of money; 2. lack of time; 3. lack of safety and security; 4. physical disability; 5. family commitments; 6. lack of interest in travel; and 7. fears of travel.