Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
VFR less prone
to economic
downturn and
exchange rates
Holding secondary
status
Long-term robustness
of VFR
VFR as social
tourists
VFRs are the
resilient travellers
Visiting, friends
and relatives
The importance of
social media
Importance of the
VFR market for the
future
Reconnecting
Decision-maker is
the local host
More research on
migration movement
needed
Marketing to Aunt
Betty or local host
Figure 12.5
Conceptual map of VFR travel
research on migration movements would add to the limited literature that
has touched on these issues.
Chapter 7 - Value of Social Tourism
This chapter theme is illustrated in several countries in Europe that facili-
tate access to tourism for disadvantaged families through social policy. From
the conceptual map (Figure 12.6) social tourism emerges as tourism with
added moral value for families who are physically or financially deprived
and as a means to counteract social disintegration. It stresses the increas-
ing diversification of family forms, such as single-sex parents and 'blended'
families. Social tourism is shown to have a range of benefits for participating
families, exemplified by the development of social and family capital, mainly
in the form of closer bonds and relationship-building and by providing new
learning opportunities. The key contribution of this chapter is highlight-
ing how family tourism, instead of a frivolous activity, can be seen as a
central building block for strong families - a function that is of particular
importance to disadvantaged families.
