Industrial Tourism: A Conceptual and Empirical Analysis

Industrial tourism involves visits by tourists to operational industrial sites where the core activity of the site is 'non-tourism' oriented. The study discusses the concept of industrial tourism within the context of tourism attraction theory, and tests empirically the extent to which visitors to industrial tourism attractions can be identified by using (a) a particular personality theory (Holland's 1985 theory of personality types), (b) demographics, and (c) past visitation. Prior to conducting a major household survey, two preliminary studies were conducted. One study considered the range and type of industrial tourism attractions in Australia, while the other considered the applicability of Holland's theory to career choice and to tourism choice behaviour. The major household study found that there were some significant associations between the respondents' Holland personality types, and their tourism behaviour, for some attractions and some measures of behaviour. The study found that industrial tourism attractions are perceived as being different to other types of tourism attraction and that Holland's theory may be a useful means of predicting tourism choice behaviour but that other measures, such as demographics and type and size of travel party, should also be taken into consideration. The implications of the findings are discussed in relation to the marketing and other aspects of the management of industrial tourism attractions.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Victoria University

Year dc:date.issued

2000

Author dc:creator

• Frew, Elspeth Ann

• 350000 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services
• School of Hospitality Tourism and Marketing

Language dc:language

en