After carrying out further literature research and exchanging ideas with various people, I finally was able to formulate my draft research proposal. And here it is:
Proposed Project Title/Broad Question:
Group package tours within a special interest tourism context: a contradiction?
An exploratory investigation of the motivations and determinants of decision-making of German participants of a special interest group package tour to Brazil.
Research Objectives/ Questions/ Hypothesis:
The literature suggests that special interest tourism is the provision of customised experiences driven by the primary motivation of a special interest which can include activities, themes or destinations. The special interest tourist is described as the ‘new’ tourist who seeks individualised, unique, authentic, novel, meaningful and participatory experiences and immersion in the culture and physical environment of the host communities.
In contrast, a group package tour (GPT) tends to offers little flexibility and interaction with local culture.
This raises the question how group package tours fit into the idea of special interest tourism?
Not much research is carried out in the field of long-haul outbound group package tours. Interestingly, studies in Asia indicate that the itinerary of the tour is not a significant travel motive and determinant of decision-making, but price, right-timing, safety, convenience, recommendation from friends and reputation of the operator.
This seems to contradict with the idea of special interest tourism.
Since the existing research in this field concentrate on the Asian market, I am curious if an investigation upon German participants of a claimed special interest group package tour will lead to the same results.
The objectives of this research are to identify:
· who participates a special interest group package tour,
· what motivates them,
· why they join a group tour and travel not as FIT and
· how they choose the operator and package, what are their selection criteria.
Based upon these, the overall questions, if group package tours contradict the idea of special interest tourism and if they can fulfil the needs of the postmodern, ‘new’ tourists, will be answered.
What I am not so sure about yet, is the research approach and methodologies I will use in order to achieve my objectives. I have concerns about the accessibility of information and informants. Tour operators need to give me access to their data and provide contact to their customers. As an alternative I could participate at a tour, but since group tour departures are generally depending on group size and thus not guaranteed, this approach might also be problematic.
What do YOU think? Maybe you have some experience in research and could give me some advice.
I would love to hear your opinion!
