STRUCTURE OF VACATION DESTINATION CHOICE SETS

The variety of choice sets that have been described in the consumer behavior decision process literature are integrated into a structure and related to the context of tourism. To be selected as the vacation destination when a nonroutine, high-involvement type of decision process is used, destinations are conceptualized to be included in an individual's initial consideration set, late consideration set, action set and interaction set. The sets are described and operationally defined. Implications are discussed of using the choice structure taxonomy as an analytical tool for destinations to ascertain their relative strengths and weaknesses at different transition points in prospective visitors' selection processes.