Seeking the real Spain? Authenticity in motivation

Following a focus group discussion, a questionnaire was compiled consisting of a series of four holiday scenarios which varied in the authenticity of the experience of the host country. Participants also completed an adaptation of a tourist, motivation scale. Both student and general public samples rated the four scenarios consistently for authenticity and their predicted enjoyment of each scenario was positively correlated with their perception of its authenticity. People scoring highly predicted higher enjoyment for all scenarios, and, in the general public sample, showed a more marked effect of authenticity on enjoyment. Older and higher social class participants also showed more effect or authenticity on enjoyment.