Tourist Typologies
Tourists can be described as a particular group of tourists based upon their different psychological characteristics. Within the spectrum of psychographic personality types a tourist can either be classified as a dependable or venturer (Plog, 2001). However "no person is a perfect exemplar of any personality type," (Plog, 2001, pg 15) with only 2.5% representing a true dependable and venturers only being represented by 4% of the population. However Plog (2001) explains that over time people's motivations and characteristics continuously change meaning that the typology in which they are defined by is also continuously changing. |
Psychographic personality types (Plog, 2001)
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Psychographic Characteristics
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Because of the broad range involving different tourist personality types it is virtually impossible for a destination or tourist attraction to cater for all groups (Plog, 2001). However within each "market consists of groups or segments of customers with different needs and wants” (Mckercher & du Cros, 2003, p. 45). Meaning that more specifically within typology groups are further sub-typologies. For example Alebaki & Iakovidou (2001) identify 4 distinct types of wine tourist whist Kemperman and Timmermans (2006) segmented nature park visitors under 4 different categories.
According to Plog (2001) most destinations have an uncontrolled development pattern in which follow are predictable, however at each stage the destination appeals to a different psychographic group of travelers. When characterizing off-peak international tourists to New Zealand, Krakover and Cuiker (2006) found that that demographics of off season tourists varied dramatically as compared to on season tourists, the average off season tourist was 11 years older than the peak season tourist average of 44 years. Manning and Powers (1984) also found that people without families were more likely to travel in the off-peak season compared to those with families. |
References
Alebaki,
M., & Iakovidou O., (2011), Market Segmentation in Wine Tourism: A
Comparison of Approaches, An
International Journal of Tourism, 6(1), 123-140
Kemperman & Timmermans. (2006). Preferences, benefits, and park visits: A latent class segmentation analysis. Tourism Analysis. 11(4) 221-230(10)
Krakover, S., & Cukier, J. (2006). Characterizing Off-Peak International Tourists to New Zealand. Tourism Review International. 10 155-168
Manning, R., and Powers, L. (1984). Peak and Off-Peak Use: Redistributing the Outdoor Recreation/Tourism Load. Journal of Travel Research 23(2):25-31
Mckercher, B., & du Cros, H. (2003). Testing a cultural tourism typology. International Journal of Tourism Research. 5(1) 45-58 DOI: 10.1002/jtr.417
Plog, S. (2001) Why Destination Areas Rise and Fall in Popularity: An Update of a Cornell Quarterly Classic. Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly. 42(3): 13-24. DOI: 10.1016/S0010-8804(01)81020-X
Kemperman & Timmermans. (2006). Preferences, benefits, and park visits: A latent class segmentation analysis. Tourism Analysis. 11(4) 221-230(10)
Krakover, S., & Cukier, J. (2006). Characterizing Off-Peak International Tourists to New Zealand. Tourism Review International. 10 155-168
Manning, R., and Powers, L. (1984). Peak and Off-Peak Use: Redistributing the Outdoor Recreation/Tourism Load. Journal of Travel Research 23(2):25-31
Mckercher, B., & du Cros, H. (2003). Testing a cultural tourism typology. International Journal of Tourism Research. 5(1) 45-58 DOI: 10.1002/jtr.417
Plog, S. (2001) Why Destination Areas Rise and Fall in Popularity: An Update of a Cornell Quarterly Classic. Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly. 42(3): 13-24. DOI: 10.1016/S0010-8804(01)81020-X
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