Vacation preferences of tourists

Dr. Ewelina Strzelecka investigated Polish tourists’ preferences for her doctoral dissertation at Warsaw School of Economics, "Consumer behavior in the market of tourist services: conditions, diversity, patterns" - Warsaw School of Economics spokesman Marcin Poznań wrote in the release sent to PAP.

Dr. Strzelecka conducted a study of behaviour of several different consumer groups on the tourist market: singles, couples and married couples without children, families with dependent children and the elderly.

Based on the CSO data, the Institute of Tourism and its own studies on a sample of 675 people aged 18-75 years declaring the use of travel agency services. Looked at, among others, Frequency tourist destination, type of tourism practiced and preferred places holiday.

Her findings are based on the data from the Central Statistical Office, the Institute of Tourism and her own studies on a sample of 675 people in the age group 18-75, who declared to use travel agency services. She looked at the frequency of tourist trips, type of practiced tourism and holiday destinations.

According to Strzelecka’s findings, singles go on tourist trips on average 2-4 times a year, in the summer, using the same, proven travel agencies, and find offers on the Internet. "Despite the rise in popularity of 3XE tourism (Entertainment, Excitement, Education), most singles still prefer to practice leisure tourism within the meaning of 3xS travel (Sun, Sand, Sea)" - reads the Warsaw School of Economics release.

Childless couples also go on vacation on average of 2-4 times a year. The majority of respondents in this group prefers passive tourism abroad. The most important motive for tourist trip in this case was rest, and the choice of destination depended on the price.

Dr. Ewelina Strzelecka divided families with children into those with minor children, and those with adult children who live and spend holidays with their parents. "These two groups were analysed separately due to clear, in some respects, differences in the behaviour of the subgroups on the market of tourist services" - explained the study author. "Families with minor children usually look for tourist agencies with the most attractive offers, while families with grown children are very attached to the travel agency, whose services they have used before" - added Dr. Strzelecka.

Families with children prefer reactive tourism and leave mainly in the summer. "However, in terms of preferred seasons, winter holidays had second place in the case of families with minor children, while in families with adult children opted for trips off-season. Undoubtedly the cause of these differences is the school year, which for families with minor children is of paramount importance when planning holiday travel" - explained Dr. Ewelina Strzelecka. While families with young children leave to have a passive rest, families with adult children will spend their trips more actively, for example explore natural beauty.

Pensioners in the age group of 60-75 years usually go with a partner and a proven travel agency. "They prefer the summer, the share of travelling off-season is significant in this case, which may result from a greater amount of free time and a reluctance to spend the holidays during increased tourist traffic" - noted the study author. Older people prefer passive tourism, with guided tours in second place among responses in this group.

The study also covered complaints and exercising rights related to deadlines for processing complaints. It turned out that awareness of consumer rights was low in all groups. According to the author, educational activities in this regard are therefore necessary, conducted, for example, by travel agency organizations.

The author noted that there was still a large group that would not use travel services, including travel agencies, which had a number of causes, usually of an economic nature. "They spend their time off on the allotment, visit family, friends, or stay at home" - explained Dr. Ewelina Strzelecka.

Source: PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland