Travel motivation: A critical review of the concept's development

Cathy Hui-chun Hsu, Songshan Huang

Research output: Chapter in book / Conference proceedingChapter in an edited book (as author)Academic researchpeer-review

112 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This chapter critically reviews travel motivation research which represents the development of the travel motivation concept over the years. The chapter applies Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory to travel motivational theory. Implicit and explicit applications of the Maslow hierarchy to tourism studies are discussed. Among those studies, the chapter highlights the approaches of the travel career ladder (TCL) and travel career pattern (TCP). The chapter examines the push and pull concept as another line of travel motivation studies. Mannell and Iso-Ahola's model of escaping and seeking dimensions, though developed as a framework of leisure motivation, informs the discussion leading to general implications and applicability in tourism studies. Also, the chapter discusses the merits of Plog's allocentrism/psychocentrism model. Plog's model helps explain the phenomenal rise and fall of travel destinations. In addition, the chapter discusses methodological issues in tourist motivation research. Building from the review the chapter closes with managerial implications.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationTourism Management
Subtitle of host publicationAnalysis, Behaviour and Strategy
PublisherCABI Publishing
Pages14-27
Number of pages14
ISBN (Print)9781845933234
Publication statusPublished - 18 Dec 2007

Keywords

  • Allocentrism/psychocentrism.
  • Travel career ladder
  • Travel career pattern, push/pull, escaping/seeking dimensions
  • Travel motivation

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Travel motivation: A critical review of the concept's development'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this