Tourism Is Only about the Pursuit of Pleasure - Essay Example

? Tourism is only about the Pursuit of Pleasure INTRODUCTION This study would examine literature that tackles the aspect of tourism as a leisure activity intended to provide satisfaction and pleasure to individuals. The literature present would comprise of journals and various articles that authenticate and support the claim of tourism as an individual’s pursuit of pleasure. It will discuss the basic constructs of tourism, as well as its evolution and the purpose in reference to its development. It would also discuss the psychological effect of tourism on people. Cizmar, S. and Lisjak, S. (2007). Tourism master plans: An effective tourism destination management tool in SEE. South East European Journal of Economics & Business. In the past decades, there is a continuous development of how individuals allocate their free time on leisure activities and trips. Leisure time is what separates an individual's life from work or school activities, mainly focusing on the purpose to enjoy. In most cases, leisure time is allocated during holiday and vacation dates wherein people travel. Tourism is defined as the utilization of leisure time to travel and visit various destinations. It is an activity in which people participate in, but is not considered a necessity for daily living. There is also an evident growth worldwide in regards to economic development in various countries. In accordance to its economical contributions, governments perceive tourism as a channel that offers employment opportunities. In regards to the leisure aspect, it has also defines an individual's quality of life, as it enables one to bask in a more suitable ambiance of relaxation away from daily activities at work and home. Perez, E.A. (2000). Tourist expenditure for mass tourism markets. Annals of Tourism Research. Tourism is both viewed as a right and an opportunity. The notion of tourism becoming an individual's right is associated with holiday privileges that usually encourage and promote tourism. The opportunity aspect is associated with less privileged nations who employ tourism strategies. Traveling in a global scale has been made easier due to better rates in airlines and tourism packages. People using money on facultative services like travel and tourism has been perceived as an inexpensive commodity as compared to other household allocations. Farrell, B. and Twining-Ward, L. (2004). Reconceptualizing tourism. Annals of Tourism Research. The emergence of credit cards have fortified the convenience of participating in travel opportunities. Apart from that, the development in technology has also made booking flights and hotel reservations easier and faster. In this regard, tourism continues to be integrated in peoples' lives as an activity one can engage in. Wang, N. (1999). Rethinking authenticity in tourism experience. Annals of Tourism Research. Tourism is now deemed as a social construct that modified society from traditional industries of production and manufacturing, into consumer centric based services. Many countries have also taken part in increasing leisure time through holiday entitlements, so that they may be able to involve themselves with leisure activities such as tourism. Wang (1999) had conceptualized a framework that embodies the system applied in tourism that encompasses the tourist, a destination and transportation. It is a cycle wherein a tourist visits a certain destination and returns after a period of time. During travels, people also engage in tours that allow them to visit localities in their area of destination. Bruner, E. (1991). Transformation of self in tourism. Annals of Tourism Research. In evaluating tourism, one must consider the following: (1) The purpose of the travel, which can be celebration, annual visits, business or holiday purposes; (2) The duration of the tourism activity; and the (3) projected situations during the tourism visit. The purposes of travel or tourism visit can vary, but it all falls under the motive of pleasure. Tourism is considered as an experience on the basis of seeking pleasure, whether in the form of relaxation, indulgence, or entertainment (Bruner 1991). This premise is well established in Tourism management, though it is uncertain whether the pursuit of pleasure is concentrated on the consumption of products, the experience acquired or the services received. Page, S. (2011). Tourism Management. Tourism consists of significant constructs that produce the variation between customer behavior and tourist behavior, as it highlights the anticipation prior the travel, the experience on the tourism visit and upon returning, which is consummated by the phase of recollection. The key element of tourism is for an individual to be somewhere else than one's daily environment. Experiences in tourism activities are have a psychological effect an individual, which can either be negative or positive. Tourism visits are associated with vacations and holidays, which are not considered as tangible items that benefit one's self. It is correlated with an individual's aspirations, which are conjectures of satisfaction and indulgence. The core essence of the experience in regards to the value and interaction acquired differentiates tourism from other forms of consumption purchases (Page 2011). Saarinen, J. (2006). Traditions of sustainability in tourism studies. Annals of Tourism Research. An individual’s desire to travel can be classified through intrinsic and extrinsic concepts to motivation. Intrinsic motivation iterates that each individual has his own personal needs, which are related to self-fulfillment purposes to acquire a state of happiness. On the other hand, extrinsic motivation pertains to causative factors that enjoin an individual to partake in travel. Pleasure encompasses the five motivational levels of an individual, which are as follows: (1) biological, (2) self-development, (3) fulfillment; (4) safety and security; (5) relationship development (Saarinen 2006). Mckercher, B. (1999). A chaos approach to tourism. Journal of Tourism Management. In Tourism management, it is critical to know the drivers as to why individuals take part in tourism in order to provide them the best experience they expect to achieve. Although it is true that the rapid growth of tourism as an industry is related to peoples' need to attain satisfaction through experiences, the concept itself has expanded into a diverse structure that encompasses an entire sector that contributes to a country's economy. It has become an entirely new industry that deals with consumer service and satisfaction. Carr, N. (2002). The Tourism-Leisure Behavioural Continuum. Annals of Tourism Research. Tourism does not remain static. Though it retains in a certain locality, the concept itself evolves and constantly changes. Through a historical analysis, Romans have practiced tourism through leaving the empire to visit resorts in main towns and cities for relaxation. They have sought pleasure during their leisure time in different locations. Although some say that tourism can only be afforded by those who possess the status to have such experiences, a trend is present through the development of tourism over history. These factors come in the form of accessibility and transportation, privacy, and the capability to travel. Tourism was then associated with the emergence of heritage destinations which serves as they key interest among patrons. Carr (2002) indicated that negative experiences would never be omitted from tourism travels regardless of the exceptional tourism management or services rendered. It is in the nature of every individual to long for fulfillment and completeness that makes tourism a temporal veneration. This is why people always seek satisfaction in different destinations, searching for the ultimate experience that would make our existence in earth complete. Nuryanti, W. (1996). Heritage and postmodern tourism. Annals of Tourism Research In Heritage and Tourism. There had been several main attractions for tourism during different eras, with various participants as well. During the Greek era, Olympic Games were the main interest of those who were in the Class A and B of the demographics. The Roman era fancied coliseums and mostly seaside and inland spa destinations, wherein the middle class were able to partake in the leisure activities as such at that time. The Middle Ages were swarmed with festivals, jousting contests and pilgrimages attended by all the classes, though religious visits were only done by those with nobility. Fairs and festivals have continued until the renaissance, sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. New forms of tourism emerged during the eighteenth century. The introduction of international travel, pleasure cruising was done in the nineteenth century, along with urban and coastal tourism. At this stage, almost all types of classes are able to have their own tourism visits. The twentieth and twenty first century continues to develop through air and sea travel, making more destinations accessible. It is evident that all the forms of tourism presented in the histological epochs are concentrated to generate pleasure and satisfaction to tourists. Based on the historical analysis of the transition of tourism forms, individuals never get fully satisfied with their travels. Eagles, P., McCool, F.J., Stephen, F. and Haynes, C. (2002). Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas: Guidelines for Planning and Management. Destinations are one of the crucial factors in tourism. There are various tourist spots around the world, offering different experiences and varying sights. In choosing a destination, people do not rely on cognition. Rather, they make decisions based on emotional and motivational drivers. In a marketing perspective, this type of philosophy elaborates on the notion of push and pull, whereas emotional requirements push an individual, while they are pulled by emotional benefits. As a result, one's pragmatic and emotional necessities are pertinent in choice behavior that promotes pursuing pleasure. Collins, A. (1999). Tourism development and natural capital. Annals of Tourism Research. One's behavior is a causative factor that motivates and mediates an individual's assessment of experiences and behaviors. Push motivation factors manifest in one's intent to have a sabbatical, whereas pull motivation factors are attributed to the choices an individual makes, with ranges from the destination option and the like (Collins 1999). The relationship between push and pull factors is associated with pleasure motivation. Leisure is considered as a constructive experience that is subjective on every individual, integrated with congenial and fulfilling emotions and temperaments. Sigala, M. (2008). Managing Tourism Destinations. Annals of Tourism Research. It is important to note the causative factors that produce behavior in consumption and the decision making activities of tourists. Researchers who have conducted a study regarding experimental features of consumption that comprises of emotions, dreams and fantasies, are key motivators to generate desired behavior. In terms of leisure activities, which is crucial in assessing what individuals feel regarding excitement, anticipation and expectations. Tourism information can be acquired not just through cognitive data, but motivation factors such as relaxation, pleasure, entertainment and tourist attractions like exceptional customer service, good food, warm and welcoming ambiance of the destination. In essence, people are motivated by the things that they anticipate and expect, as learned from the information acquired pre and during the vacation. CONCLUSION Tourism has become an industry that consists of various branches such as (1) leisure travel, which is considered as an escape from one's habitual activities; (2) eco-tourism, which is an educational trip to visit delicate environmental areas; (3) medical tourism, a kind of a tourism practice that involves individuals looking for health care treatments; (4) cultural tourism, which focuses on the culture and artistic aspect of a certain region; and lastly, (5) dark tourism, which involves visiting sites that have been engaged in crimes, battles and the like (Cizmar and Lisjak 2007). These forms of tourism all contribute to the economy of a certain country. Though the five types differ in its purpose, all are driven under the same motive, which is to satisfy one's self. It can either be through entertainment in things that are of interest or to feed one's curiosity, or to achieve happiness through relaxation. It can also be to satisfy one's self through reflection, self-actualization or treatment. In essence, people go on vacations to acquire a positive result that would give them satisfaction. Page (2011) indicated that proper tourist management implies the identification of the tourist's intent to travel and the expectations during the tourism visit. These are important factors to design a tourism service that would provide the most ideal experience to a customer that seeks to fulfill their need to be there (Saarinen 2006). Page and Connell (2009) has justified the prior statement through the analysis of historical trends in the tourism industry. The tourism sector has continued to develop since the Greeks, wherein various tourism activities have been applied, that are designed for the satisfaction of the participants concerned. These activities continue to evolve and change as dependent on what society wants, and who can partake in such types of services (Carr 2002). Page (2011) also highlighted the need to have an ideal destination and the accessibility to it through transportation. Goossens (2000) have also established the same notion, that destinations are one of the most critical factors that would determine the satisfaction one would achieve in a tourism visit. In Tourism Information and Pleasure Motivation, Eagles et. al (2002) elaborated on the premise that individuals choose travel destinations based on emotional and motivational drivers, rather than cognitive. This implies that even though a person might feel endangered to visit Africa and other people advise better tourist spots such as Singapore, an individual partial to Africa would choose that destination over Singapore, in spite of possible hazards and complexities. Even though one would insist that Singapore is a better and more affordable tourist destination than Africa, the individual would not feel fulfilled or satisfied without experiencing Africa's wild Safari. Page (2011) stated that the culminating phase of a tourism activity is the last part, which is the recollection stage. This is the phase wherein an individual reflects on the experiences and emotions acquired before, during and after the travel. The projected outcome before the on-site experience is always positive, and this must be justified through the actual and the post-experience situations. These can be evaluated through one's intrinsic and extrinsic motivation factors, which are derived from Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. These include fulfillment and satisfaction to achieve happiness as an individual. Page and Connell (2009) indicated that negative experiences, though impossible to eliminate, must be reduced in the highest extent in order to bring about a positive encounter. Although regardless of the level of satisfaction one acquires in a travel, it is human's innate nature to seek happiness constantly. REFERENCES Bruner, E. 1991. Transformation of self in tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 238-50. Carr, N. 2002. The Tourism-Leisure Behavioural Continuum. Annals of Tourism Research, vol. 29, no. 4, pp.972-86. Cizmar, S. and Lisjak, S. 2007. Tourism master plans: An effective tourism destination management tool in SEE. South East European Journal of Economics & Business, vol. 2, no. 1, pp.48-57. Collins, A. 1999. Tourism development and natural capital. Annals of Tourism Research, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 98-109. Eagles, P., McCool, F.J., Stephen, F. and Haynes, C. 2002. Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas: Guidelines for Planning and Management. IUCN Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. Farrell, B. and Twining-Ward, L. 2004. Reconceptualizing tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 274-95. Goossens, C. 2000. Tourism Information and Pleasure Motivation. Annals of Tourism Research, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 301-21. Mckercher, B. 1999. A chaos approach to tourism. Journal of Tourism Management, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 425-34. Nuryanti, W. 1996. Heritage and postmodern tourism. Annals of Tourism Research In Heritage and Tourism, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 249-60. Page, S. 2011. Tourism Management. Page, S.J. and Connell, J. 2009. Tourism: A Modern Synthesis, 3rd edn. London: Cengage Perez, E.A. 2000. Tourist expenditure for mass tourism markets. Annals of Tourism Research, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 624-37. Saarinen, J. 2006. Traditions of sustainability in tourism studies. Annals of Tourism Research, vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 1121-40. Sigala, M. 2008. Managing Tourism Destinations. Annals of Tourism Research, vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 836-38. Wang, N. 1999. Rethinking authenticity in tourism experience. Annals of Tourism Research, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 349-70. Read More