An integral understanding of destination choice

Abstract

Prevalent sociopsychological models examining tourists’ needs and motivationsaffecting destination choices are discussed by taking Plog’s (1974) psychographic profiles,Cohen’s (1979) tourist typology, and Peace’s (1988) travel career ladder. Meanwhile, thesethree models have only been tested independently, and while considering the complex natureof the modern tourism environment, a psychological factor-led tourists’ decision-makingprocess cannot precisely examine how tourists choose a certain type of destination. Thisstudy, therefore, argues that no single model can adequately explain tourists’ destinationselection process as well as travel behaviors and introduces a new integrated perspective ofexisting psychological models. Additional factors such as distance decay andsociodemographic elements are linked to the tourists’ destination decision-making process.</p