The four stages of on-site behavior for a long-stay relaxation holiday

Abstract

Previous studies largely treat the on-site travel experience as a single stage of homogenous tourist behavior, despite widespread recognition that tourist behavior is complex and consists of temporal decision processes. In particular, little attention has been given to what changes during the course of the long-stay holiday. The purpose of this exploratory study is to understand changes in tourist behavior, if any, from point of arrival through to the end of a long-stay relaxation holiday. In-depth interviews were conducted with mature-aged international travelers from the United States, Europe, and Australia visiting Phuket, Thailand. The findings illustrate changes that can be characterized, into four distinct stages of on-site behavior, through key activities, uncertainty levels, intercultural interactions, information needs, and sources of information. Important implications for destination marketing organizations are suggested which require innovative strategies to match the changing needs and activities of long-stay tourists at various stages of the holiday.

Attributes of Senior-Friendly Tourism Destinations for Current and Future Senior Tourists: An Importance-Performance Analysis Approach

“…In this context, traveling is a crucial achievement of senior people's aspirations and enjoyment, which ensures the quality of life in the later stages of life (Graham et al, 2018). Research has proved that a relaxing holiday enhances mental and physical well-being through a reduced level of activity and an increased level of calmness (Anantamongkolkul et al, 2017). Therefore, to ensure senior tourists remain active and productive, greater emphasis should be directed toward senior mobility, community support, and environmental and social support in tourist destinations, such as through reliable public transport and senior-friendly outdoor spaces and buildings (Mohd et al, 2019).…”

Los verbos modales en las introducciones y en las conclusiones de los artículos científicos de turismo

“…Accordingly, they are more likely to notice, and act on, the most credible and attractive marketing messages… However, DMOs and hotels can use some of the characteristics evident in this group to leverage tourists into desired activities. For instance, in this stage, tourists have often found 'new best friends' at the destination, and group activities involving the tourists and friends are more likely to be considered in a favorable light (Anantamongkolkul et al 2017).…”