Pot, Femke (2022) Tourism in Home Country: Proximity Tourism in Times of Covid-19. Master thesis, Cultural Geography - Tourism Geography and Planning (TGP).
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Pot F.R. - Master's Thesis Cultural Geography (S2990342).pdf Download (13MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Touristic otherness is often associated with traveling geographical distances, far away from one’s usual environment. Researchers have been warning for the ever-continuing growth of the tourism sector, as it has some negative consequences, of which one is its negative impact on the climate. Proximity tourism has become an increasingly relevant subject in academic literature, as it may provide a solution to the problematic consequences of the tourism sector. Staying local is one of the ways tourists can minimize their impact on the environment. The Covid-19 crisis has shed new light on this subject: distance has become a disadvantage and proximity a new commodity. This thesis aims to explore to what extent tourists are fulfilled in their longing for otherness at a proximate destination. A survey (N=170) was administered to proximity tourists at three holiday parks in the north of The Netherlands. Next to this, short in-situ interviews were conducted. From the results, it became clear that Covid-19 had a large impact on tourists' motives behind traveling to a proximate destination. Tourists generally preferred a balance between 'other' and familiar characteristics in their holiday. Furthermore, it seems to be possible to experience otherness at a proximate destination. However, the Dutch holiday parks generally did not seem to provide the experiences of otherness that tourists preferred, as some ‘other’ elements are easier to find than others. The results of this thesis may provide input for further innovative tourism development, aimed at raising awareness and appreciation of familiar, near-home environments.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
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| Name supervisor: | Boumans, B.M. |
| Date Deposited: | 21 Mar 2022 07:59 |
| Last Modified: | 21 Mar 2022 07:59 |
| URI: | https://campus-fryslan.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/101 |
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