Abstract
Mass travel including rapid itinerary tours will not change much in their return as evidenced in the early stage of return. What is less understood is how the rest of travel will unfold. This study considers a conceptual model for alternative travel, that is, Purposeful Travel. Purposeful Travel is presently defined as intentionally driven travel that supports the wellbeing of the individual, communities and the planet. The concept differs from most other post-pandemic conceptualizations of alternative tourism because it includes a comprehensive framework of six dimensions while others tend to lean on a single issue such as climate change or overtourism. The six dimensions that frame Purposeful Travel include the issues of greenhouse gas reduction in travel and host respect and inclusion. It includes two of the most prominent emergent trends in alternative travel that is wellness in travel broadly defined, as a motivation and slow travel as mode or style of travel. Finally, it includes two core principles of education and the expectation of extraordinary experiences. The paper includes a conceptualization of travel situated within post-pandemic sensibilities that include real observed structural change such as destinations enacting policies to control the return and future of travel through to shifting public attitudes about why and how we travel. Attitudes towards toward both the impact and value of travel have manifested in everything from love travel to travel shaming. This work is also informed by the February 2023 Purposeful Travel Summit, held in Banff Canada.
Presenters
Joe PavelkaProfessor, Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership, Mount Royal University, Alberta, Canada
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2023 Special Focus—Post-Pandemic Tourism Transformations
KEYWORDS
PURPOSEFUL TRAVEL, POST-PANDEMIC SENSIBILITIES, ALTERNATIVE TRAVEL
