CHAPTER 2:

THE SOCIOLOGY OF TOURISM

 Desired Learning Outcomes:
01 Explain the social 04 Describe the new 07 Explain the meaning of
nature of travel; travel patterns; social tourism.

02 Describe the Social 05 Explain the preferences or

effects of Tourism; the international tourist;

03 Discuss the 06 Describe the types of

socioeconomic variables tourist roles; and
and their effect on travel;
The Social Nature of Travel
Travel is brought about by the social nature of man. Human beings, as social animals, feel
comfortable in a tour group. They feel that their trip is more enjoyable and freer from
anxiety if they join in group tour. Camaraderie often develops friendships that last for
years.
In some subcultures, travel is the accepted way of spending one’s vacation. Sabbatical
leaves and foreign assignments make it possible for university faculty members and
employees to travel and develop a passion for it.
Tourism evolves a mutual trust and respect for one another and the dignity of life on earth.
According to Pope John Paul II, “The world is becoming a global village in which people
from the different continents are made to feel like next-door, neighbors, In facilitating more
authentic and social relationship between individuals, tourism can help overcome many
real prejudices and foster new bonds of fraternity.”
 Social Effects of Tourism
Tourism is concerned with the movement and contact between people
in different geographical locations. In sociological terms, this
involves:
1. Social relations between people who would not normally meet;
2. The confontation of different cultures. ethnic groups, lifestyles, languages, levels of
prosperity, and the like;
3. The behavior of people released from many of the social and economic constraints of
everyday life; and
4. The behavior of the host population which has to reconcile economic gain and benefits
with the costs of living with strangers.
The degree to which conflict will occur between host and guest depends upon the similarity in their standard. of
living, the number of tourist at anytime, and the extent to which the tourist adapt to local norms.
 SOCIOECONOMIC VARIABLES
AND THEIR EFFECT ON TRAVEL
A. AGE B.- Income
INCOME AND SOCIAL STATUS
- There are several differences between between and social status have a great
patterns of travel based on age. Younger people tend to influence on travel. Rich persons, well as
select more active recreational activities than older persons with higher social status, travel more
people. The elderly (those in the late sixties and than those with lower income and social class
upward) prefer more forms of recreation, such as status, Higher income tourists stay longer and
visiting friends and relatives, fishing, sightseeing’ spend more per day than those with lower
playing golf. Older tourists tend to travel to farther incomes.
destinations, prefer ship travel more in spring than
younger tourists do, and spend less than middle-age
tourists but more than younger tourists.
C. EDUCATION
- There is a strong correlation between education and travel. Generally, speaking, the better
educated members of the population have a greater desire travel. Researchers have found
that the more educated the travelers are, they tend to be more sophisticated in their tastes.
They prefer activities that require the development of interpretative and expressive skills, such
as attending plays, concerts, art museums, reading books, playing golf, and skiing.

D. LIFE STAGES OF THE FAMILY

- The presence of children in the family limits travel. More leisure time is spent at home. As
the child grow up and leave home, the married couples renew interest in travel. Couples in this
life stage usually have more discretionary income and are more financially capable to travel.
 THE RISE OF NEW TRAVEL PATTERNS
A. Travel Clubs
The most significant development in group
travel consists of trave clubs. A very good
example of these is the Club Mediterrance
which started in Western Europe and then
spread to North America and other areas of
the world. In his group travel plan, a club
member enjoys travel opportunities and
vacation destination facilities at a much
cheaper price than that paid by a
nonmember. The accomodations offered by
the club range from deluxe to very modest.
There is also a wide choice of locations,
climate, and other vacations features.
B. Airline Group and Arrangements C. Special Interest Tours
Special interest group level is
Another development in group travel is the introduction of different becoming more popular at present
types of tour fares promoted by airlines. These are the following: are tours arranged for those who
are interested in a particular activity
bird watching, festivals, fishing,
1. Group of 15 or more are given reduces fares;
hunting, scuba diving, photography,
flower arrangement, golf, skiing,
2. Charter service is given by some airlines to affinity group tours mountain climbing, and the like.
which are intended for those affiliated to a legitimate group for a
period of six months or longer;
3. Public charter in which an entire airplain is made available to a
group of persons who travel to the same destination; and
4. Incentive tours which are given by firms to employees as a reward
for a special achievement or as a motivation for achievemeny.
PREFERENCES OF THE INTERNATIONAL
TOURIST
The preferences of the international tourist are divided in four
categories, namely:

1. Complete relaxation to constant activity;

2. Traveling near one’s home environment to a totally strange
environment;
3. Complete dependence on group travel to traveling alone: and
4. Order to disorder.

― Irene M. Pepperberg
 A. Relaxation Versus Activity
Before, the workweek for most people including the middle class was long and exhausting. Thus, they demanded holidays that offered and rest. At
present, the workweek has been shortened and the annual holiday leave has been lengthened. Work has become less tiresome and people have
become used to greater leisure. Relaxation has become possible throughout the year. Accordingly, people have started tou use their no. Holiday
time leisure to excercise new activity skills, such sailing, climbing, horse riding, and sports. The demand for activity-oriented travel has greatly
increased.

B. Familiarity Versus Novelty

In general, most tourists on their first trip abroad tend to seek familiarity rather than novelty. They search for something that will remind
them of home, whether it be food, newspaper, living quarters, or another person from their own country. As soon as they find a place
where they feel at home, these tourists will go back to the same place for a number of times. Not until they have gained more
experience in traveling will they want to go to a new environment to see customs and cultures different from their own, and to mix with
people who speak differently, eat differently, and dress differently.

At present, there is an increasing positive attitude for novelty and for change. People accept innovations in industry, education, family
life’ the arts, and social relationships, among others. Tourists move away from traditional resorts to new tourist destinations.
 C. Dependence Versus Autonomy
In the past, tourists joined package tours in which transportation, lodging, food, sightseeing, and entertainment were fixed in
advance by the tour agency. At present, there is the emergence of a group of tourists who would like to acquire a sense od
personal autonomy regarding their leisure time. They would like to travel on their own and not part of a group. They would like
to feel independent in complete control of what they do and how they do it.

D. Order Versus Disorder

In the past, tourists sought holidays which enforce the traditional concept of conformity set meals at fixed times,
guidebooks which told them the right places to visit, and resorts where their fellow tourists were tidy, well-behaved,
and properly dressed. They avoided situations where their adult-imposed sense of orderliness might be offended.

Now, the new generation of tourists is not very concerned about what to wear and have to behave when on holiday.
Informality in behavior, a greater tolerance toward the differences of others, and freedom from institutionalized
regulations are now the characteristics of the modern traveler.

Because of social and economic changes in modern society, the demand for travel will be based less on familiarity,
relaxation, dependence, and order, but more on novelty, activity, autonomy, and informality
 TYPES OF TOURIST ROLES
The continuous combination of novelty and familiarity forms the
basic variable or the sociological analysis of the phenomenon of
modern tourism. This combination pads to the four types of tourist
roles. Each type represents a characteristics form of tourist
behavior. The first two types, the organized mass tourist and the
individual ass tourist, are called intitutionalized tourist roles because
are delt within routine way by the tourist establishment, such as
travel agencies and hotel chains which cater to the tourist trade. The
last two types, the explorer and the drifter, are called non-
institutionalized tourist roles because they are loosely attached to
the tourist establishment.

This is where you section ends. Duplicate this set of slides as many times you need to go over all your sections.
A. The Organized Mass Tourist
This type of tourist is the least adventurous. He buys a package tour in which the itinerary of
his trip is fixed in advance and his stops are well-prepared and guided. He seldom makes
decisions for himself. He prefers a familiar environment rather than a new environment .

B. The Individual Mass Tourist

The individual mass tourist is 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. However, all the major arrangements of his tour are still made through a travel agency.
Like the organized mass tourist, he also travels within his own country and goes out of it
occasionally. Familiarity is still dominant, but less than the organized mass tourist. The desire
for novelty is greater for the individual mass tourist.
C. The Explorer
This type of tourist arranges his trip by himself and looks for comfortable accommodations and
reliable means of transportation. He tries to associate with the people he visits and to speak their
languages. The explorer dares to leave his country much more than the previous two types, but
goes back to it when the experience becomes too rough. Although novelty dominates, the explorer
does not adopt completely the lifestyle of the host country. He still retains some of the basic
practices and comforts of his native way of life.

D. The Drifter
The drifter goes the farthest away from the accustomed ways of life of his own country. He is
almost totally immersed in his host culture. He tries to live way the people he visits live and to
share their shelter, foods, and habits. He retains only the most basic of his native customs. He
arranges his own trip and does not seek the help of a tour agency. He does not have a fixed
itinerary. Novelty is at its highest; familiarity disappears almost completely.
 SOCIAL TOURISM
In a general sense, social tourism is a subsidized system of travel through the intervention of the government, employer, or labot union
to achieve social goals and purposes. In the late 1930s, when many European countries passed laws on paid holidays, it was
recognized that the right to legal holiday could not only be meaningful if the ordinary worker will be able to afford travel for recreation and
rest. Thus’ a number of voluntary associations in the field of social tourism worked to Obtain reduced fares and to create a network of
holiday centers for tourists of limited mean.

In 1963, The international Bureau of Social Tourism (BITS) was founded in Brussels to encourage the development of social tourism on
an international scale. At present, it has a membership of more than 100 associations all over the world. The promoting tourism to
achieve social objectives by studying such issues as youth and senior citizen travel, the staggering of holidays, camping and,
caravanning, building and financing moderate cost tourist facilities, and preservation of local culture and environment.

A number of European governments subsidized tourism in several ways. Belgium grants subsidies for the modernization and
construction of family hotels. Spain has provided money for winter sports, camping sites, as well as rural and mountain recreational
facilities. The state owns a chain of 82 inns called paradores. France gives assistance to holiday villages and camping grounds. It also
gives loans and grants for rural lodging rented to tourists for at least three months a year for a minimum of 10 years. Ireland subsidizes
inland cruising. Norway and Sweden grant loans for less expensive accomodations.
In the United States, more than 100 different majors programs of the federal government
provide for recreation, tourism, travel, and environmental conservation. Activities range from
assigning approximately one billion acres of public lands for recreation to the operation of
historic sites, national parks, and forests.
THANK YOU!

Group: Rackeshe Panergo

Mae Jhoanna Manuel
John Patrick Delos Santos
Ericka Dela Ceuz