1.4 Diff personality characteristics of tourists

Question 1

Diff personality types of tourists

Answer 1

1. dependables
2. venturers
   ——
   - only small amount of tourist belongings on extreme ends
   - many fall between the extremes, possessing a mixture of personality characteristics from both extreme ends

Question 2

Dependables

Answer 2

• individuals who try to make their daily lives predictable
  ———
  Spending patterns:
• more cautious
  ———
  Source of influence:
• Guided by authority figures in making travel decisions.
• Follow travel trends set by other Venturers and public personalities.
  ———
  Preference for travel activities:
• Prefer structure and routine.
• Travel in groups as they like to feel comfortable and secure.
• Visit popular and familiar destinations which have well-developed tourism facilities and amenities for their convenience.
• More likely to return to the same place again.
• Hence, they prefer mass tourism because of the predictability and routine nature of the activities.

Question 3

Venturers

Answer 3

• individuals who reach out and explore the world in all its diversity
  ————
  Spending patterns:
• more readily
  ————
  Source of influence:
• Guided by their personal judgement rather than authority figures in making travel decisions.
  ————
  Preference from travel activities:
• Prefer to be spontaneous and have a diversity of activities.
• Travel alone.
• Explore less-developed, unique places where they can participate in new experiences and activities even if it is less convenient.
• Often, they set travel trends for others.
• More likely to visit new places each time they travel.
• Hence, they prefer to make their own travel plans, and often opt for niche tourism.

Question 4

How personality characteristics influence travel patterns

Answer 4

• determine travel preferences and patterns such as the choice of destinations and tourist activities.
• because the features of a tourist destination may appeal more to specific personality characteristics.
• Tourist activities that cater to the preferences of certain personality characteristics may only be found in certain destinations.
  ————
  Example:
• Mongolia is just beginning to develop its tourism industry, and mostly attracts Venturer-type tourists who are comfortable with fewer tourist amenities.
• There are some Dependable-type tourists who visit Mongolia but they tend to visit urban attractions.
• Venturer-type tourists in Mongolia tend to visit more undeveloped areas, for instance, the plains or grasslands, which may not have convenient tourist facilities.

Question 5

How do personalities influence development of destinations

Answer 5

• A destination may be more appealing to certain personality characteristics.
• Tourist destinations are dynamic and are constantly evolving.
• As they evolve, features change, and type of tourists they attract will also change.
• As Venturer-type tourists often set travel trends and therefore infuence the travel decisions of Dependable-type tourists, the tourist destination may eventually lean from a Venturer-type one to a Dependable-type one.
• Planners and stakeholders can develop tourist destinations in a way that attracts certain personality characteristics.
• For instance, in order to attract more Dependable-type tourists, more facilities and amenities that offer convenience can be developed.
  ————
  Example:
• Costa Rica used to attract mainly Venturer-type tourists.
• However, it has evolved over time and began attracting more tourists who lean towards being more Dependable-type. Hence Costa Rica began losing its appeal to Venturer-type tourists.
• To remain profitable, tourist authorities were advised to protect its natural environments as well as promote adventurous tourist activities to attract Venturer-type tourists.
• By recognising the personality characteristics of tourists and the tourism decisions they make, planning authorities can then decide how to promote and develop Costa Rica as a tourist