Economic Psychology of Travel and Tourism

Book excerpt: Here is an informative overview of economic psychology as applied to the study of travel and tourism. Economic psychology provides evidence about the behavior of consumers that is instrumental for the development of economic theory as well as for marketing, consumer policy, and research on travel and tourism. Economic Psychology of Travel and Tourism stimulates new approaches to the study of travel and tourism. Chapters contain empirical studies and explore conceptual and theoretical perspectives of the sociopsychological mechanisms that underlie travel and tourism demand and the economics of destinations. This book is a helpful resource for travel and marketing professionals and advanced students of tourism. These individuals often have a good background in psychology and in marketing, but little, if any, knowledge on how the two fields are linked. Economic Psychology of Travel and Tourism helps them see and understand the broader economic psychological issues that impact both the supply and demand sides of the travel and tourism economy. Economic Psychology of Travel and Tourism discusses such issues as corporate identity, promotion/advertising, information processing, meaning structure, and consumer behavior, research, and demand. Specific chapters in this book include: an investigation of the relationship between the way tourists think to realize their dreams and the tourist industry's potential to make those dreams come true an examination of current literature related to 4 prevalent topical areas associated with consumer behavior in recreational and touristic contexts an exploratory study to determine the extent to which friends and/or relatives influence travel decisionmaking processes beyond the role of information provider the development of a model of decisionmaking associated with long-term, complex purchase processes effects of tour brochures with experiential information a study of promotion and demand in international tourism Economic Psychology of Travel and Tourism clarifies for readers applications of psychological theories and methods to the study of travel and tourism phenomena, helping them recognize areas of economic and social psychology that can help them deal more effectively with fundamental issues underlying the travel and tourism economy.