Socio-Psychological Motivations, Special Interest Tourism and WTO Regions
...ccur in the journey. 5. Prestige ¡V The choice of a holiday destination is a statement about lifestyle and can be seen in terms of status and social enhancement. Travel may have become part of the indigenous life style rather than symbolic of a higher life style. Prestige potential disappears with frequency of exposure. 6. Social interaction ¡V The holiday can be an important social forum for individuals. Sometimes, a group of like-minded people with common interests are brought together ¡V special interest groups of those interested in painting or sailing or gemstone-collecting. Other holidays are designed for single people so they can become part of a group and not feel isolated. Social interaction was in fact people oriented rather than place oriented, tourist going on these trips was to meet new people in different location, the group of people often had a common interest which facilitated social interaction. 7. Romance ¡V The opportunity of meeting people for the purpose of romantic encounters which are free from the restraints of home is often a desired form of social interaction and a powerful influence in choosing a destination. ¡¥Sun, sand and sex¡¦ is a description often applied to destinations such as the Gold Coast. The ¡¥sex¡¦ may refer to romantic as well as physical relationships. 8. Educational opportunity ¡V This goes to the heart of tourism; it is a chance to see new sights, to learn about other places and peoples, to understand something of other cultures and viewpoints. Such as ecotourism which brings you to a natural areas as well as bushwalking, birdwatching. 9. Self-fulfilment ¡V People sometimes return from a holiday with a changed life or a changed perspective. The journey has been as much a self-discovery as a discovery of new places and people. 10. Wish-fulfilment ¡V The holiday is the answer to a dream, a dream which may have sustained a long period of saving. Special interest tourism Active Adventure ¡V Caving, Parachute jumping, Trekking, Off-road adventure and Mountain Climbing Nature and Wildlife ¡V Birdwatching, Ecotourism, Geology, National parks and Rainforest Affinity ¡V Artists¡¦ workshops, Gay tours, Lesbian tours, Seniors tours and tours for the handicapped Romance ¡V Honeymoon, Island vacation, Nightlife, Single tours and Spa / hot springs Family ¡V Amusement parks, Camping, Shopping trips, Whalewatching, Gourmet/gastronomy Soft Adventure ¡V Backpacking, Bicycle touring, Canoing / kayaking, Scuba diving/snorkeling and Walking tours History / Culture ¡V Agriculture, Art / architecture, Arts festivals, Film / film history and Winery tours Spiritual ¡V Biblical tours, Church tours, Pilgrimage/mythology, Religion / spirituality and Yoga & spiritual tours Hobby ¡V Antiques, Brewer / beer festival, Craft tours, Gambling and Videography tours Sports ¡V Basketball, Car racing, Olympic Games, Soccer and Senior tours Region 1: Africa, Social-Psychological Motivation and Special Interest Tourism Africa is a very different region compare to the other 4 regions in the world. It is a country that full of adventures. The region is a lot less developed comparing with others. The area is full of nature and animals and it appears to become its most attractive element for others to travel to the country. Socio-Psychological ¡V Escape The socio-psychological motivation for others to travel to the Africa region is more likely to be an escape factor. As travelers are towards the modern life that they are used to, they have very little chance to experience a more nature lifestyle. Africa gives a choice for travelers to escape from the modern so that they can try a completely different lifestyle to get away from the technology and enjoy the most lovely and simple things from nature. Speical Interest Tourism ¡V Nature and Wild Life The special interest tourism group is the Nature and wild life tour. As mention before, the strength that Africa is the nature environment. Travelers are interested by the nature environment that they have, to get way of the stress that they experience in the modern city. Travelers have a chance to experience lifestyle that they have never experience before in modern city like rainforest, bird watch and many wild life animals that they can experience on. People who love adventure can experience exciting while traveling in Africa for those who prefer a more lay back lifestyle can also find some surprises in Africa. Wild life animals are another major important attraction to travelers, most of the modern people has not experience wild life animals. In Africa, they have chances to have a close relationship with much different type of wild life animals. A eleven-day wildlife tour (an example of Natural and Wild Tour, which is an educational opportunity) through the African Safaris Tour (Kenya, Africa) is shown below in Figure 1. Figure 1. African Safaris Tour (Source: http://www.africa-safari.net/kenya/wildlife-white-sands-safari.html) Region 2: Americas, Social-Psychological Motivation and Special Interest Tourism Americas region is consider to be the most modern region within the world, which the United State of America has the most powerful and influence play in the world. Socio-Psychological ¡V Play The socio-psychological motivation for travelers to travel to Americas is to play. Unlike Africa, America is the world most modern country; people can have many different experiences. Most of the travelers may experience to travel to America for business purpose and for use the separate time for travel purpose. Also many people will love to travel to America to have a look to see how come it can become the most influence and powerful country in the world. Speical Interest Tourism ¡V Family The special interest tourism group is for family. There are many places for the family to travel to in Americas. If the parent appears to travel for business purpose, the other members can find other interest places to visit in America. There are many shopping centre and factory outlet that available for ladies who love to shop, for young teenagers there are many theme park that they can visit and for sure it is interesting for them. America is a place for travelers to go to with the whole family as people can find that a place that may suit their interest in America and they can have fun there. If they are sick of the modern life they are used to, there are place in South America and Canada that is not as developed as the USA and may have chances for some nature life or outdoor activities that they look for. Whale watching is a good activity for the whole family to attend as there is not many place in the world that have whale watching tours and people can have a chance to see whales in Americas. A four-day Thanksgiving Holiay (an example of Strengthening family bonds, which is Play) through the the InfoHub Inc. (California, USA, Americas) is shown below in Figure 2. Figure 2. InfoHub Inc. (Source: http://www.infohub.com/TRAVEL/SIT/sit_pages/8945.html) Region 3: Asia and Pacific, Social-Psychological Motivation and Special Interest Tourism Asia and pacific region is a region with strong and different culture compare to other four western regions. Asia region is a very attractive region for many western as the forbidden history that the region has. People have little understanding about the region and find it very attractive to them. Socio-Psychological ¡V Education Opportunity The socio-psycholog...