The Sociology of Tourism

Agenda
The Social Nature of Travel
Socioeconomic Variables
The Rise of New Travel Patterns
Preferences of the
International Tourist
Social Tourism

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The Social Nature of Travel
Travel is brought about by the
social nature of man. Human
beings, as social animals, feel
comfortable in a group.
Tourism evolves a mutual trust
and respect for one another and
the dignity of life on earth.

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The Social Effects of Tourism
1. Social relations between people who would not normally meet
2. The confrontation of different cultures, ethnic groups, lifestyles, languages, levels of
prosperity
3. The behavior of people released from many of the social and economic constraints of
everyday life
4. The behavior of the host population which must reconcile economic gain and benefits with
the costs of living with strangers
Socioeconomic Variables and Their Effect on
Travel

AGE INCOME AND SOCIAL STATUS EDUCATION LIFE STAGES OF THE FAMILY

Age - Younger people tend to select more active recreational activities than older people. The
elderly prefer more passive forms of recreation. Older tourists tend to travel to farther destinations.
Income and Social Status – Rich persons as well as persons with higher social status, travel more
than those with lower income and social class status.
Education – Generally, the better-educated members of the population have a greater desire to
travel.
Life Stages of the Family – The presence of children in the family limits travel.

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The Rise of New Travel Patterns
AIRLINE GROUP AND
TRAVEL CLUBS ARRANGEMENTS SPECIAL INTEREST TOURS

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 Preferences of the
International
Tourist
A. Relaxation Versus Activity
B. Familiarity Versus Novelty
C. Dependence Versus Autonomy
D. Order Versus Disorder

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Types of Tourist Roles
NON-INSTITUTIONALIZED TOURIST
INSTITUTIONALIZED TOURIST ROLES
ROLES

• Organized mass tourists and individual • The Explorer and Drifter

mass tourists.
• They are loosely attached to the tourist
• Dealth within a routine way by the tourist establishment.
establishment

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A. Organized Mass Tourist
◦ Least adventurous
◦ Buys a package tour in which the itinerary of his trip is
fixed in advance and his stops are well prepared and
guided.
◦ Prefers a familiar environment rather than a new one.

B. Individual Mass Tourist

◦ Similar to the organized mass tourist, except that the
individual mass tourist has a certain degree of control
over his time and itinerary and is not bound to a group
◦ Familiarity is still dominant, but less than the
organized mass tourist.
◦ Desire for novelty is greater for the individual mass
tourist.

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C. The Explorer
o Arrange his trip by himself and look for comfortable
accommodations and reliable transportation.
o Tries to associate with the people he visits and speak their
language.
o Although novelty dominates, the explorer does not
completely adopt the lifestyle of the host country.
o remains some of the basic practices and comforts of his
native way of life

D. Drifter
o Goes the farthest away from the accustomed ways of life of
his own country.
o immersed in his host culture.
o He arranges his trip and does not seek the help of a tour
agency.
o Novelty is at its highest

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Social Tourism
o Subsidized system of travel through the intervention of the government, employer, or labor
union to achieve social goals and purposes.
oIn the late 1930s, many European countries passed laws on paid holidays.
oIn 1963, the International Bureau of Social Tourism (BITS) was founded in Brussels to
encourage the development of social tourism on an international scale.
oEuropean governments subsidized tourism in several ways. Belgium grants subsidies for the
modernization and construction of family hotels. Spain has provided money for winter sports.
oThe state owns a chain of 82inns called paradores.

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