CONCEPTUALIZATION OF MULTI-DESTINATION PLEASURE TRIPS

A four-cell typology of Pleasure trips is developed based on number of destinations visited and the trip purpose or benefits sought. Five distinctive spatial patterns evolving from this typology are identified that may be adopted by pleasure travelers: single destination, en route, base camp, regional tour, and trip chaining. Four of these involve visiting multiple destinations. Multi-destination visits are a rational behavior pattern and reasons that account for this behavior are discussed. It is suggested that the concept of cumulative attraction offers a conceptual under-pinning for explaining such trips. Benefits accruing from a better understanding of multi-destination trip behavior are discussed.