Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
relation to travel across Europe. Su and Wall (2009) also make reference to
this as a key motivation for travel between Beijing and Lhasa in Tibet on the
Tibetan railway, which operates at an altitude of over 4000 metres for most
of the route. Su and Wall (2009, p650) investigated the 'relative importance
of the train journey itself' in relation to the pull factors of the destination of
Tibet. Most of the tourists on board were educated Chinese people making a
first visit to Tibet. The quantitative survey highlighted the motivational ele-
ments. Of importance were natural scenery, followed by an interest in Tibetan
culture. A third factor reported in the study related to the opening of the new
railway. The most important motivational factor was an opportunity to enjoy
the views from the train, and secondly a gradual adaptation to the altitude of
the destination.
There are some market indicators which highlight the growing importance
of travel mode. Market research undertaken by the South West Tourism Board
in the UK indicates, for example, that 10 per cent of their visitors actively
choose a 'green holiday', one which includes the use of local trains and buses
(Transport Regeneration Limited, 2009). However, environmental factors are
often washed out by other core indicators, including travel cost, duration,
price, comfort, convenience and avoidance of stress (González-Savignat, 2004;
Gutierrez, 2001). These factors feature more strongly in long-distance travel.
There is also a balance, as travel can be troublesome and the train is no excep-
tion (Boorstin, 1987). For example,
El Trên de las Nubes
provides endless
spectacular scenery en route from Salta to the Andean mountains in Argentina,
but there are medical risks, associated with altitude sickness, as the train
reaches 4200 metres above sea level. In contrast, riding an Amtrak train from
Seattle to California across the Cascade Mountains and the Glacier National
Park offers comfort and relaxation, as the train makes its way through a suc-
cession of outstanding landscapes. Both offer scenic reward, but one is
potentially more painful than the other.
The travel experience
Travel by train is embedded in the cultural complexity of many societies
(Freeman, 2002; Schivelbusch, 1977). It provides an opportunity to engage
with people and surroundings, whilst travelling over medium to long distan-
ces (Adler, 1989). There are several elements which characterize the train
travel experience of the tourist. The assumption is that the passenger is a co-
producer of train travel, and the interactions, mood and environment of the
journey are integral parts of the process (Anderson, 2004). Watts (2008, p211)
describes this as 'how passengers craft their travel time'. The strands of the
travel experience are summarized as follows:
•
sharing a journey with others
•
using the travel time to enhance the journey (i.e. observation of people and
landscapes)
•
relaxation and having time for oneself.
