Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
Introduction: Families in
Tour ism Research
Why Study Families in Tourism?
Families with dependent children account for just under half of the popula-
tion and comprise 29% of all households in the UK (Beioley, 2004), which
is comparable to other Western countries. In New Zealand, about 26%
of the population are under 18 years old and most children are nurtured
within the context of the family (Statistics New Zealand, 2006). Families
with dependent children (who encompass adolescents as well as babies)
thus represent a significant proportion of the population and an important
current and future market for the tourism industry. For example, families
generate about one in four of all holiday trips made in the UK (Mintel, 2004)
and account for 30% of leisure travellers in the USA (Travelhorizons, 2009).
Consequently, it is not surprising that the family holiday market has been
identified as constituting a major portion of leisure travel around the world
(Shaw
et al
., 2008). Peter Yesawich predicted that family travel (defined
as that undertaken by adults, including grandparents, with children) will
continue to grow at a faster rate than all other forms of leisure travel, partly
because it represents a way to reunite the family and for family members
to spend time with each other, away from the demands of work (Yesawich,
2007). Families seem to put a high priority on taking holidays. For many
families in the UK an annual holiday is now seen as essential rather than a
luxury (Beioley, 2004). The importance placed on the family market within
the tourism industry is, however, not reflected in tourism research.
The American humourist Nathaniel Benchley (2001) stated that 'there are
two classes of travel - first class, and with children', referring to the burdens
associated with travelling with children. While research that addresses travel
has focused on the 'first class' holiday, very little is known about holidays
with children, which are deemed to be a more 'mundane' and trivial type
of tourism (Bærenholdt
et al
., 2004). In tourism research, the family holiday
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