DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND EXERCISES

1. In your own experience, define (a) travel, (b) tourism, and (c) tourist.

Travel is a movement of a person who goes out from his/her usual environment towards
another country, either entering or passing through to it. Travel can be a long or short time
duration depending on a person’s purpose of travel.

Tourism is a movement of a person who goes out from his/her usual environment, either
domestically or internationally. Tourism is typically less than a year.

A tourist is a person who goes outside his/her usual environment and stays at a certain
place for at least 24 hours. A person can be a domestic or international tourist.

2. Compare and contrast travel and tourism.

Travel and tourism are activities that generally focus on directions and distances. In
simple words, it is a movement from one place towards another place. Both travelers and tourists
can make use of airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, boats, buses, ships, or trains as a means of
transportation. But somehow, these words differ in terms of their operational use. Usually, travel
refers to a person who enters or passes through a country. The main focus of travel is family,
healthcare, and work. It can be a long or short time duration. On the other hand, tourism can be
domestic or international. The main focus of tourism is leisure and recreational purposes
including the beaches, big cities, monuments, museums, and national parks. It is usually less than
a year.

3. Explain the concept of (a) travel, (b) tourism, and (c) tourist.

Travel comprises all journeys from one place to another place. It is the movement of a
person who enters or passes through a country. It can be a long or short time duration depending
on a person’s purpose of travel.

Tourism is a temporary short-term movement of a person outside his/her usual

environment. It can be domestic or international tourism. It is usually less than a year.
 A tourist is a person who goes outside his/her usual environment. A person can be a
domestic or international tourist. Before a person is considered a tourist she/he needs to stay at a
certain place for at least 24 hours.

4. Define (a) travelers, (b) tourist, (c) excursionist, and (d) visitor.

Travelers are any person who is taking a trip inside or outside his/her country’s residence.
A person can be done in a short or long time and with or without means of transportation.

A tourist is a person who is taking a trip outside his/her residence and staying at a certain
place for at least 24 hours. A person can be a domestic or international tourist. The purpose of a
tourist is typically for business or leisure.

Excursionist is a person who temporarily visits a place for less than 24 hours. A person
can be a domestic or international excursionist. The purpose of an excursionist is typically for
business or leisure but not for transit.

A visitor is a person who is taking a trip outside his/her residence for long-term purposes
but not exceeding 12 months. A person can be considered a domestic or international visitor. The
main purpose of a visitor is to explore and learn.

5. Discuss the difference between travelers and tourists.

Travelers are anyone who is taking a trip while tourists are a person who stays at a
particular place for at least 24 hours. Travelers can use a different mode of transportation or
his/her foot only to travel while tourists need a different mode of transportation. Travelers stay at
a certain place, either short or long time depending on the purpose while tourists can be
considered as a tourist if they stay in a certain place at least 24 hours.

6. Compare and contrast the terms excursionist and visitor.

Excursionists and visitors are both parts of travel and tourism. They are both activities
that refer to going out from the usual place to travel or visit a certain place at a certain time. But,
excursionists and travelers are not similar in terms of their operational use. An excursionist or
day or night tripper is a person who stays at a certain place for a short time and it is usually less
than 24 hours. While a traveler is a person who stays at a certain place for a long time but not
exceeding one (1) year.

7. Enumerate the type of tourist. Discuss each type.

The type of tourists is domestic tourists and international tourists. Domestic tourists are
the persons who travel to destinations outside their usual environment but within their country.
While, international tourists are the persons who travel to destinations outside his/her usual
environment, and cross another country, use different currencies, face different languages, and
meet different types of people.

8. Discuss the characteristics of (a) the organized mass tourists, (b) individual mass
tourists, (c) explorer, and (d) drifter.

The organized mass tourists are the least adventurous and spend most of their time in
their comfortable “environmental bubble” or similar living environment throughout their trip.
Besides, the tour agency is the one who arranges all the requirements for the tourists to travel as
well as the itineraries.

Individual mass tourists are similar to the organized mass tourist because they are
confined to their “environmental bubble”, except that the tour is not entirely fixed. The
individual mass tourists have a certain amount of control over their time and itinerary and are not
bound to a group. Besides, the tour agency is also the one who arranges all the requirements for
the tourists to travel.

Explorers arrange their trips alone and leave their “environmental bubble” more readily
than the organized mass tourists and individual mass tourists. They are careful about their
ventures and retain some of the basic routines and comforts of their native way of life. They also
try to go somewhere unusual, but still, look for comfortable sleeping places and reliable modes
of transportation.

Drifters also arrange their trips alone and go further away from the “environmental
bubble” and the accustomed ways of life. They keep away from any kind of connection with the
tourism establishment, such as hotels and tour coaches. They also have no fixed itinerary or
timetable and tend to make their trips wholly on their own, live with the local people, and often
take odd-jobs to keep themselves going.

9. Explain the Plog‘s classification: (a) Allocentric type, (b) Psychocentric

type, and (c) Mid- centric type.

Allocentric type or wanderer is the type of tourist who seeks new experiences and
adventure in a wide range of activities. They are outgoing and self-confident in behavior and
prefer to fly and explore new and unusual areas before others do so. They also choose to have the
freedom to explore an area, make their arrangements, and choose a variety of activities and
tourist attractions.

Psychocentric type or the repeater is the type of tourist who is usually not adventurous.
They prefer to return to familiar travel destinations where they can relax and know what types of
food and activity to expect. They also prefer to drive to destinations, stay in typical
accommodations, and eat at family-type restaurants.

Mid-centric type or combination is the type of tourist in between allocentric and

psychocentric type. They are the people who are not exceptionally adventurous but still open to
new experiences.

10. Compare the Allocentric type from Psychocentric type in Plog‘s classification of
tourists.

The psychocentric type of tourists is self-inhibiting, nervous, and non-adventurous while

the allocentric type of tourists is outgoing, self-confident, and adventurous. Psychocentric
tourists prefer familiar travel destinations where they can relax and know what to expect
including the type of activities and foods while allocentric tourists seek new adventure and
experiences.