INSIGHTS INTO THE REPEAT VACATION PHENOMENON Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • The study focused upon the repeat visitor. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire at two Texas Highway Visitor Centers and through indepth personal interviews with a small sample. A majority of the sample were returning to a destination that had been visited before. Compared to those visiting a destination for the first time, repeat visitors were more likely to be older individuals seeking relaxation and visiting a friend and/or relatives on their vacation. The qualitative component of the study uncovered five factors which contributed to people returning to a familiar destination. They were a reduced risk that an unsatisfactory experience would be forthcoming; an assurance that they would find "their kind of people" there; emotional childhood attachment; to experience some aspects of the destination which had been omitted on a previous occasion; and to expose others to an experience which had previously been satisfying to respondents. 1984.

published proceedings

  • ANNALS OF TOURISM RESEARCH

author list (cited authors)

  • GITELSON, R. J., & CROMPTON, J. L.

citation count

  • 341

complete list of authors

  • GITELSON, RJ||CROMPTON, JL

publication date

  • January 1984