Perceptions on
destinations and
attractions
‘Tomorrows
tourists’
Natasha Pardy.
Kate Case Study

I do not agree that Kate’s attitude towards holiday
destinations and attractions are to be of a typical British
teen because she has based her perceptions on her
friends and family's experiences, not her own. It show
she has a very strong view on what she thinks a holiday
should be and include for instance ‘sunbathing,
because isn’t that the main reason you go on holiday –
relax and come back with a tan – otherwise it’s just a
waste of time going’. Kate obviously has not learnt how
much a destination or attraction can provide yet.
According to an article by the Guardian ‘With older teenagers, it becomes more
difficult. The word "freedom" was written in capital letters and underlined by the group
of 15- to 17-year-olds. They would like to see more activities organised especially for
them - "where you wear your own clothes", stressed Laila.
Teenagers could sign up for shopping trips to local towns, non-alcoholic discos ("in real
nightclubs") and local water parks. They wanted their own keys to their bedrooms when
they were sharing with parents, and a discount to allow them to bring a friend more
cheaply on the trip. Once again watersports scored highly, though with more
adventurous spin - water skiing, bungee jumping, jet skiing.’
Teenagers want to be able to be free to do what they
want but be safe and have fun doing lots of activities.
Teenagers don’t have a very long attention span these
days due to internet, games and phones.
The wish list
What they love
 12 to14-year-olds
• Water activities: fun pool, water polo, water chutes,
banana boats. * Beach discos, barbecues.
• Make-overs, talent shows for the girls.
• Arcade games, team sports, videos for the boys.
 15 to 17-year-olds
• Freedom to choose whether or not to participate in
activities.
• Shopping trips, non-alcoholic discos in real nightclubs.
• Own keys to bedrooms.
• Discounts to bring friends.
• Waterskiing, bungee-jumping.
• Blind Date and karaoke competitions.
 What they hate
• Group entertainment, which is likened to "controlled
funtime" and at which they are expected to instantly bond
with strangers.
 There
are a lot of views and issues Kate
talks about including places she will or
wont want to visit when she is older
because of her perceptions of that place
but also what she has learnt from the
media and public opinion.
 Depending on the teenagers previous
experiences with holidays and own
perceptions of destination determines
their outcome on where they would visit
either now or in the future.
If Kate was different nationality

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


If Kate was a different nationality, there are several
factors that may change her views on holidays.
Culture – Some cultures have strong feelings on
what woman are able to do or go.
Wealth of the country – If you lived in a wealthy
country, you may want to go and visit 3rd world
countries or you may spend thousands of £/$ to
go somewhere new and un-spoilt.
Education – If your school criteria is different from
ours you may learn about other historical or
attractions which will give you a different outcome
on what you want out of a holiday.
Determination to succeed – Wanting to move
away and succeed in a professional which allows
you to move or travel (polish convert to Britain for
work)

Country of origin – Which ever country you come from
you may have visited places within your country but
most people have the desire to travel further a field. If
you are from Spain you may be interested in attractions
in england which would mean the weather may not be
a factor at all in your decision.

Language – could be a barrier as 80% of the worlds
countries/destinations speak English as their primary
language
English is the primary language* in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia
(Australian English), the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize (Belizean
Kriol), the British Indian Ocean Territory, the British Virgin Islands, Canada
(Canadian English), the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar,
Grenada, Guam, Guernsey (Channel Island English), Guyana, Ireland
(Hiberno-English), Isle of Man (Manx English), Jamaica (Jamaican English),
Jersey, Montserrat, Nauru, New Zealand (New Zealand English), Pitcairn
Islands, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Singapore, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands,
Trinidad and Tobago, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the United Kingdom, the
U.S. Virgin Islands, and the United States. (One World Nations
Online)
My Questionnaire.
I created a questionnaire with about 6 questions I
though would give me good data to show that
there is not stereotypical type of age group when it
comes to perceptions and holiday decisions.
1.Which type of holiday would you prefer to go on?
2. Where would you like to go on holiday?
3. Where did you last go on holiday?
4. How would you spend your days on holiday?
5. Would you agree with the following statements
about each destination?
A- Paris, B- Florida CIbiza
6. If money was no object, what would your dream
holiday be and your reason for this?
Canidate 1
Age
Sex
Q1
Canidate 2
18
Canidate 3
19
Canidate 4
19
Canidate 5
20
Canidate 6
20
Canidate 7
21
Male
All Types
Canidate 8
24
Female
All Types
Female
City Breaks
Male
Active
Q2
Female
Female
Beach, Active & Nature
City Break
Mexico
South Africa
World Trip
New York City
Amazon Forest Easter Island
Q3
Majora
France
Magaluf
Florida
Portugal
Centre Parcs
Q4
Swimming,
Waterparks,
Nightlife,
Beaches
Sightseeing,
Shopping,
Swimming,
Beaches
Sightseeing,
Waterparks,
Shopping,
Nightlife,
Beaches
Sightseing,
Swimming,
Shopping,
Culture.
Shopping,
Sport,
Swimming,
Nightlife,
Beaches.
Sightseeing,
Sport,
Swimming,
Waterparks,
Museums,
Beaches,
Culture.
Q5( a )
Agree (Lovelock Disagree
bridge)
(Things for
everyone)
Agree (Media
portrays this)
Disagree
(Things for
everyone)
Q5( b )
Agree (More
Agree (Think it Disagree (7
Agree (Lots of
things for kids) does attract
Parks, All ages) attractions)
more young
tourists)
Agree (Personal Disagree
experience,
(Things for all
lived there)
ages)
Q5 ( c )
Agree (Nightlife Agree (Word of Agree
Agree (Media
and culture)
mouth)
(Nightlife,
has portraid
friends holiday) this)
Disagree (There Agree (The
Agree (Cant
Agree (Word of
is always more culture is aimed Argue wih that) mouth &
to a place)
at young
advertisment)
people)
Q6
Thialand & New Worldwide Trip Worldwide Trip Bora-Bora
Zealand
(See
(See
(Paradise)
everything)
everything)
Go to space
(Interested,
unknown)
Questionnaire & Data
Disagree (Effiel Agree (City of
Tower &
love)
Disney)
Male
Active
25
Female
Nature
Rio de janero, Canada
Brazil
Dublin, Ireland Cornwall
Sightseeing,
Sport,
Swimming,
Waterparks,
Nightlife,
Museums,
Beaches,
Culture
Disagree
(Museums)
Sightseeing,
Swimming,
Beaches
Agree (Plenty
to do for
younger
tourists DisneyLand)
Agree (Disney, Agree (Lots of
Universal
attractions)
Studios &
Magic
kingdom)
Worldwide Trip Mars (Want to Travel Asia and
(See
be the first one Australia
everything)
to go)
My Findings.

I did not have the sources to question 15/16 year
olds so I choose my age group which is only a few
years older and I found that out of the 8 people
who took part in the survey, all but two choose
sightseeing as one of there activities to do whilst
on holiday and for the dream holiday as ‘Kate’
choose a common/affordable holiday and had
good reasons for them, the majority of people I
questioned chose world wide trip which shows
that even though Kate is young she did not go far
fetched like some of my candidates but then she
hasn’t has the personal experience of travelling
and may not have a good knowledge of that else
the world can offer her.
Referencing.
Unknown (2000) What teens want on holiday [Online] Available at
http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2000/may/06/6
One world nations (1998-2014) Countries by Languages [Online] Available at
http://www.nationsonline.org