Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
society and increased emotional attachment to them mean children will
become a luxury themselves as they become scarcer and more important.
As society ages and families are more mobile, the elderly population has an
important care-giving role in looking after their grandchildren and providing
a safe environment. Families have less time to relax and play together with
higher rates of female participation in the labour market; therefore time
together becomes the new luxury and tourism is the facilitator of family
bonds through increased quality time. The key contribution of this theme
is identifying family tourism as 'social glue', by increasing the opportu-
nity for family interaction and also through multigenerational holidays,
'grandtravel', extended family travel and VFR travel.
Chapter 4 - UK Family Tourism: Past, Present and Future Challenges
This chapter traced the historical development of family tourism in the UK
through to the future (Figure 12.3). It highlighted the growing importance
of the family tourism market in the UK despite the prevailing economic
climate, by tracing historical shifts in working-class culture, the influence
of children on tourism demand and the changing make-up of families. Not
only are families considered the fundamental social group in society but
also the presence of children has a major influence on tourism participation
and patterns. The significance of the holiday was explored in the context
of disadvantaged families and social tourism. It was noted that family
relationships are improved by increased quality family time and enhanced
engagement with learning occurs as a result of family holidays providing
a key argument for the 'term-time holiday'. The key contribution of this
theme is the bringing together of different influences, historical, social and
financial, that currently shape the family tourism market in the UK and into
the future.
Chapter 5 - Inclusion of Fathers, Children and the Whole Family
Group
This chapter theme adds the role of the father, the emphasis placed by the
children on what they want from a holiday and the internal group dynamics
to the understanding of family holiday experiences. From the conceptual
map (Figure 12.4), it is argued that the inherent sociality present in family
groups requires more holistic and critical methodological approaches to
tourism research. A whole-family methodology was used to highlight the
role of fathers as the main entertainer of the children, the importance placed
by children on the social aspect of fun and the group dynamics of com-
promise, cooperation and conflict on holiday. The key contribution of the
chapter is the provision of more inclusive familial perspectives that explore
gender, generational and group dynamic dimensions in tourism. From this
