Responding to Disaster: Thai and Scandinavian Tourists' Motivation to Visit Phuket, Thailand

Abstract

This study explores travel motivation on thanatourism of tourists visiting the disaster-hit beach resort of Phuket and identifies differences in tourist motivation between Thais and Scandinavians and between tourists of different age and gender. The findings reveal that curiosity about the outcome of the tsunami, desire to help local people, and safety were the most important travel motivations. Significantly, it is found that curiosity on thanatourism of tourists is not curiosity about death but about the outcome of the disaster and that it motivated only domestic tourists but not inbound tourists. In addition, the study suggests that curiosity acts as both a push and a pull motivation for domestic tourists. The findings also suggest that women are more motivated by safety and desire to help others than are men and that young tourists are the most curious regarding thanatourism.

Consuming post-disaster destinations: The case of Sichuan, China

“…Additionally, while some natural or cultural attractions may simply disappear, other places not previously visited may become prominent aspects of tourism consumption after a disaster. This might be due to the need for creating new attractions and disaster-hit areas transforming into tourist attractions in their own right (Rittichainuwat, 2008;Robbie, 2008). Nonetheless, academics and practitioners have largely focused on the need to re-establish the destination's image as safe and to emphasize the recovery activities to restore the destination's traditional, 'pre-disaster', tourism markets and products (Gotham, 2007;Rittichainuwat, 2011).…”

“…Others underline the political and social role of visits to disaster sites, as a means to raise awareness, international sympathy and support for the recovery process (Kelman & Dodds, 2009;Miller, 2007). Likewise, destinations are increasingly making deliberate use of sites of tragic events to promote themselves (Medway & Warnaby, 2008;Rittichainuwat, 2008). For example, following Hurricane Katrina, alongside the promotion of the traditional tourist spaces of New Orleans as being safe, strategic efforts were made to capitalize on 'tourist's desire for the dramatic' (Gotham, 2007, p. 828).…”

“…Yet, Kelman & Dodds (2009) note that others may find tragedy and the possibility of visiting a disaster area unique and appealing. For example, Rittichainuwat (2008) found that domestic tourists are particularly interested in visiting the disaster-hit area, whereas the inbound market prefers Phuket's traditional sun, sea and sand product. Further, Robbie (2008) notes that even after several years, while traditional tourism to New Orleans has recovered or surpassed pre-Katrina level, Hurricane Katrina tours are still a "much required experience" (p. 259).…”

“…In contrast, the understanding of tourist behavior in the context of sad or distressing sites, and particularly at destinations recovering from natural disasters, is limited (Rittichainuwat, 2008;Stone & Sharpley, 2008). Studies on post-disaster tourism predominantly focus on providing guidelines for tourism recovery (e.g., Faulkner, 2001;Ritchie, 2004) or explore tourists' risk perceptions (e.g.…”

Quality-of-Life and Travel Motivations: Integrating the Two Concepts in the Grevillea Model

“…Motives are described as "underlying forces" that have the power to direct travel decisions (Beh and Bruyere, 2007), and act as the starting point that "triggers the decision process" (Chang, 2006(Chang, , p. 1225. Foundational motivation theory studies including Crompton (1979), Dann (1977), Iso-Ahola (1982;, and Maslow (1962) are referred to in only a limited number of reviewed studies (Rittichainuwat, 2008;Moreno Gil et al, 2009;Mehmetoglu, 2007;Beh and Bruyure, 2007;Park and Yoon, 2009). In most instances, authors address the reality of different motives and certain aspects of motivation theory (such as push and pull motives that play a specific role in determining travel decisions) or acknowledge that different decisions are made for different reasons (Martin and del Bosque, 2008), or identify that the motivation to travel occurs when different needs must be met (Beh and Bruyere, 2007).…”