ITFT-Types of Tourist

AN IMPORTANT FACTOR FORTOURISM

TOURIST

Types of tourist

• THE ORGANISEDMASS TOURIST

• THE INDIVIDUALMASS TOURIST

• THE EXPLORER• THE DRIFTER

THE ORGANISED MASS TOURIST. The organised mass tourist are theleast adventurous and spend most oftheir time in their comfortable“environmental bubble” throughouttheir trip.

• EXAMPLE: A guided tour in an air-conditioned bus travelling throughthe country side, the itinerariesdecided in advance, and all theattractions and stopping points arewell fixed and guided. Tourist havealmost no decisions on the trip.

THE INDIVIDUAL MASS TOURIST• This type of tourist is similar to theorganised mass tourist, except thatthe tour is not entirely fixed. Thetourist have certain amount ofcontrol over his/her time anditinerary ,and is not bound to agroup.

EXAMPLE :• An independent package to a resort in

kasauli for a week. flights, hotel, transfersareare all booked ahead of time.

THE EXPLORER

• This type of touristarranges their tripsalone.

• They try to gosomewhere unusual,but still look forcomfortable sleepingplaces and reliablemeans oftransportation.

• They retain some ofthe basic routinesand comforts oftheir.

• They always try toexplore newdestinations.

EXAMPLE:

• A self-organisedself-drive tour torohtang. Touristplan their ownitinerary andstay in locallyrecommendedbed & breakfastestablishmentslike touristlodges, or newestablishments.

THE DRIFTER• This type of tourist go further away

from the “environmental bubble” andfrom their day to day life in their homecountries. They keep away from anykind of connection with the tourismestablishments. They are happy to livewith locals and try to live the way thelocals live and speak their language.Drifters have no fixed itinerary or timetables.

EXAMPLE :

• A back-packer whotours aroundunknowndestinations.

• Stays at new place.• Picks up jobs toearn some money.

THREE MAIN TYPES OF TOURISTACCORDING TO THEIR

PERSONALITIES

•ALLOCATION TYPE.•PSYCHOCENTRIC TYPE.

•MID-CENTRIC TYPE.

ALLOCATION TYPE• An allocentric tourist is a person

who seeks new experiences andadventure in a variety of activities.This person is outgoing and self-confident in behavior. An allocentricperson prefers to fly and to explorenew and unusual areas beforeothers do so. Allocentrics enjoymeeting people from foreign ordifferent cultures. They prefer goodhotels and food, but not necessarilymodern or chain-type hotels.

• For a tour package, an allocentric would like to have thebasics such as transportation and hotels, but not becommitted to a structured itinerary. They would rather havethe freedom to explore an area, make their ownarrangements and choose a variety of activities and touristattractions.

PSYCHOCENTRIC TYPE• Psychocentrics are more conservatively oriented. They tend

to be inhibited and non-adventuresome. They prefer toreturn to familiar travel destinations where they can relaxand know what types of food and activity to expect.

• Psychocentrics prefer to drive to destinations, stay in typicaltourist accommodations, and eat at family-type restaurants.When arranging a package tour, psychocentrics would prefera heavily structured itinerary so that they know what toexpect. Safety and security are very important to this group.

MID-CENTRIC TYPE

• There is a large number ofpeople falling between theallocentric and thepsychocentric types of tourists.This type of tourists is calledmid-centrics. Mid-centrictourists are not particularlyadventurous, but they arereceptive to new experience.