The Inclusion of Fathers, Children and the Whole Family Group in Tourism Research on Families - Family Tourism - page 68

Literature Review
Most tourism research has focused on the individual and emphasises de-
tachment, but thereby has effectively de-socialised tourist subjects, which
renders such approaches unsuitable for research on families (Obrador,
2012). This has led to limited and fragmented literature on family holiday
experiences. Families travelling with children form the consumer base of
most tourism operators and are estimated to generate over a third of receipts
within the wider travel industry (Travelhorizons, 2009). Research into
family group behaviour, as a collective experience, requires a more inclusive
approach, instead of the individual perspectives that have dominated. There
have been some studies on the collective perspective of family holiday
experiences (Gram, 2005) but most research is either from the individual
perspective, usually the mother, or centred on particular attractions (Johns
& Gyimothy, 2003; Sterry & Beaumont, 2006). The lack of research into
broader understandings of the whole family group raises several unique
points in tourism studies: firstly, virtually nothing is known about the
father is experience (Schänzel & Smith, 2011); secondly, very little is known
about the experiences of children (Small, 2008); and thirdly, very few studies
focus on the experiences of different family members together on holiday,
or on how group dynamics can inflame or heighten the individual's holiday
experience (Pritchard & Havitz, 2006). This calls for a methodology that is
inclusive of children, fathers and the whole family group as was applied in
the study reported here.
Most family tourism research is market- and consumer-driven and
focused on the themes of decision processes and roles (Lehto et al ., 2009) and
there is a lack of research into broader experiential dimensions. However,
the core product of tourism are the experiences gained (Prentice et al ., 1998).
This is represented by a three-phase realisation of journey experiences
(Gyimothy, 1999), albeit with an element of continuation: the anticipation
of experiences; the on-holiday experiences; and the recollection of experi-
ences. Relatively little attention has been paid to the meaning of family
holiday experiences to parents (see Blichfeldt, 2006; Lehto et al ., 2009; Shaw
et al ., 2008). Even less is known about all the family members' experiences
alongside group experiences traced over time, which means that family
group dynamic experiences and their temporal dimension are virtually
absent in tourism research.
In contrast to fathers, there are studies that are informed by a feminist
perspective and are focused on mothers' family holiday experiences (e.g.
Anderson, 2001; Davidson, 1996; Deem, 1996; Small, 2005a, 2005b).
These studies highlight the never-ending physical and emotional work of
motherhood, both at home and when travelling. However, apart from the
present investigation (Schänzel & Smith, 2011) no studies have been done
on the family holiday experience of fathers (Ryan, 2003). This is surprising