Consumer Behavior in Tourism and Hospitality Research

This insightful volume explores how tourists' identities shape their consumption patterns and travel choices, emphasizing the importance of self-description in understanding consumer behavior.

In Consumer Behavior in Tourism and Hospitality Research, the chapters delve into the intricate relationship between tourists' identities and their consumption patterns. Through a series of examinations, the authors provide valuable tools and evidence that enhance our understanding of how personal markers influence tourists' buying and consumption behaviors. By analyzing consumers' self-descriptions, the book portrays contemporary tourists as individuals who craft audio-portraits of their experiences, using their purchases and travel-related services to construct their identities.

The book emphasizes that the configurations of destinations, accommodations, travel modes, and activities play a crucial role in shaping how tourists perceive themselves and how they communicate their identities to others. Each travel experience becomes a narrative that informs not only the tourists themselves but also those around them about their personal journeys. The insights gained from these self-expressions highlight the significance of understanding one’s identity through travel, as it directly impacts future travel decisions and consumption behaviors.

Ultimately, Consumer Behavior in Tourism and Hospitality Research argues that tourism-related behaviors are part of complex consumption systems, which can be virtuous or vicious. The volume advocates for the importance of thick descriptions and case-based models as essential components for conducting meaningful research, paving the way for a deeper understanding of tourism behavior and its implications on identity formation.