The Sociology of

Tourism
 The social nature of Travel

 Travel is brought about by

the social nature of man.
 Human beings are social
animals, feel comfortable in a
tour group.
 In some subcultures, travel is
the accepted way of spending
one’s vacation.
 The social nature of Travel

 Tourism evolves a mutual

trust and respect for one
another and the dignity of
life on earth.
 THE SOCIAL EFFECTS
OF TOURISM
 Tourism is concerned with the
movement of and contact
between people in different
geographical locations.
 THE SOCIAL EFFECTS
OF TOURISM
 In sociological terms this
involves:
› Social relations between people of
who would not normally meet.

› The confrontation of different

cultures, ethnic groups, life styles,
language, levels of prosperity.
 THE SOCIAL EFFECTS
OF TOURISM
 In sociological terms this
involves:
› The behavior of people released
from many of the social and
economic constraints of everyday
life

› The behavior of the host population

 THE SOCIAL EFFECTS
OF TOURISM
 The degree to which conflict will
occur between host and guest
depends upon the similarity in
their standards of living, the
number of tourists any time,
and the extent to which the
tourists adapt to local norms.
 Socio-economic
variables and their
effect on travel
 AGE

 INCOME AND SOCIAL STATUS

 EDUCATION

 LIFE STAGES OF THE FAMILY

 The Rise of New
Travel Patterns
Travel Clubs –
 the most significant
development in group travel
consist of travel clubs.
 Example is the Club
Mediterranee
 The Rise of New
Travel Patterns
Airline Group Arrangement –
 Types of tour fares
› Group of 15 are given reduced fares
› Charter service is given by some airlines
› Public charter in which entire airplane is
made available to a group of persons
who travel to the same destination.
› Incentive tours
 The Rise of New
Travel Patterns
Special Interest Tours –
 Special interest tour is
becoming more popular at
present.
 Bird watching, fishing, scuba
diving.
 Preferences of the
International Tourist
1. Complete relaxation to constant
activity
2. Traveling near one’s home
environment to a totally strange
environment
3. Complete dependence on a
group travel to traveling alone
4. Order to disorder
 Relaxation versus
Activity
 before the workweek for
most people was long and
exhausting
 workweek has been
shortened and the annual
holiday leave has been
lengthened.
 Relaxation versus
Activity
 work has become less tiresome
and people have become used to
great leisure.
 relaxation has become possible
through out the year.
 The demand for activity-oriented
travel has greatly increased.
 Familiarity versus
Novelty
 most tourists, tend to seek
familiarity rather than novelty.
 they search for something that
will remind them of home.
 at present, there is increasing
positive attitude for novelty.
 People accept innovations in
industry, education, family life.
 Dependence versus
Autonomy
 Tourists joined package tours in
which transportation, lodging, food,
sightseeing and entertainment were
fixed in advance by the tour agency.
 At present there is an emergence of
a group of tourists who would like to
acquire a sense of personal
autonomy regarding their leisure
time.
 Order versus
Disorder
 Tourist sought holidays which
enforced the traditional concept
of conformity – set meals at
fixed times, guide books.
 Now, the new generation of
tourists are not very much
concerned about what to wear
and how to behave.
Types of Tourist Roles
 Institutionalized Tourist Roles
› Organized Mass Tourist
› Individual Mass Tourist

 Non-institutionalized Tourist
Roles
› Explorer
› Drifter
Types of Tourist Roles
 ORGANIZED MASS TOURIST
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 decision for himself
Prefers a familiar environment rather
than a new environment
 Types of Tourist Roles
 THE EXPLORER
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 speak their language.
Dares to leave the country but goes
back to it when the experience
becomes too rough.
 Types of Tourist Roles
 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 with people he visits.
Novelty is at its highest.