Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 2.8:
Determinants of tourism
demand
Source: Uysal (1998)
• the conceptual place of tourism motivation
• its task in the specialism of tourism
• its ownership and users
• its ease of communication
• pragmatic measurement concerns
• adopting a dynamic approach
• the development of multi-motive perspectives
• resolving and clarifying intrinsic and extrinsic motivation approaches.
To date no all-embracing theory of tourist motivation has been developed which has been
adapted and legitimised by researchers in other contexts. This is largely due to the
multidisciplinary nature of the research issues identified above and the problem of
simplifying complex psychological factors and behaviour into a set of constructs and
ultimately a universally acceptable theory that can be tested and proved in various
tourism contexts. As a result, Cooper et al. (1993:20) prefer to view the individual as a
central component of tourism demand to understand what motivates the tourist to travel.
Their research rightly acknowledges that:
No two individuals are alike, and differences in attitudes, perceptions and
motivation have an important influence on travel decisions [where]
attitudes depend on an individual's perception of the world. Perceptions
are mental impressions of…a place or travel company and are determined
by many factors which include childhood, family and work experiences.
However, attitudes and perceptions in themselves do not explain why
people want to travel. The inner urges which initiate travel demand are
called travel motivators.
