SPECIAL INTEREST TOURISM

Special Interest tourism

Special Interest tourism

Introduction

The main purpose of this paper is to discuss the special Interest Tourism. This paper discusses the nature and development of Special Interest Tourism (S.I.T), and makes demonstrations on the range of special interest tourism holidays and the diversity of tourist types. This paper also analyzes the appeal of SIT holidays for some tourist consumers and discusses that why there may be a motivation for them to take special interest holiday. This paper also discusses the management of trips and issues typical of this sector.

Nature and Development of Special Interest Tourism

How the Variety of Tourist types and Tour Operator gives the Special Interest sector its identity

Tourism industry, like all other similar sectors, has been keeping pace with the changing socioeconomic situations. Thus, tourism markets that were popular a couple of decades ago now show signs of saturation and what is evident is a continuous search for vibrant markets. This search does not confine itself to the outer perimeter of tourism markets only in a more conventional sense. It begins to look for areas that fall outside of the realm of “conventional” (Aas, 2005, p. 28). It thus explores possibilities of developing tourism in those sectors too which at first glance do not appear as quite amenable to tourist traffic. These sectors; however, have a common meeting ground in that they provide or at least promise to provide an experience that is of special interest to tourists. Such sectors or areas of tourism markets are known as Special Interest Tourism (SIT). In 1980 S.E. Read attempted a definition of SIT, and in his words “special interest travel is travel for people who are going somewhere because they have an interest that can be pursued in a particular region or at a particular destination.” Thus, purpose as an essential ingredient, in addition to leisure, forms the core of SIT. The tourist taking to SIT decides to fulfil one or more worthwhile objectives during his/her travel. These objectives appear to have a purpose ranging over a wide choice of areas as the reward for understanding the travel (Attix, 2002, p. 51). Thus, floral or faunal study, conservation requirements, environmental experience, or even experiences revolving around scientific studies or investigation provide the necessary special interest to the tourists at travel destination. Evidently, an enriching experience in addition to leisure and non-routine, activities is an essential condition for SIT. We may; therefore, accept SIT as that form of tourism which offers some “meaning” to the tourist at the destinations along with a sense of pleasure away from everyday activities.

How trends in the tourism industry and in holiday interests have contributed in recent years to the emergence of a special interest tourism sector

The scope of finding this additional purpose for travel to a destination can be both, narrow as well as diversified and; therefore, there cannot be, any universal nature of SIT experiences. For example, one may travel to Ajanta only to study the dress designs in the ancient paintings - ...