Special Interest Tourism: Characteristics and Differentiation from Mass Tourism

This document discusses the characteristics of special interest tourism and differentiates it from mass tourism. It explores examples of special interest tourism products, services, experiences, and providers in different markets. The document also provides references for further reading.

Special Interest
Tourism

TABLE OF CONTENTS
LO1..................................................................................................................................................3
P1 Define and differentiate the characteristic of special interest tourism with mass tourism.....3
Differentiation b/w special interest tourism and mass tourism...................................................3
P2 Examine examples of special interest tourism product, services, experience and providers
at different markets......................................................................................................................5
REFRENECES................................................................................................................................6

LO1
P1 Define and differentiate the characteristic of special interest tourism with mass tourism
 Special interest Tourism
It is one of the fastest growing segments in the tourism sector who always seeks for new
experience which brings satisfaction in whole spectrum of interest (Novotná and et.al., 2019).
Such tourisms specially concentrate on activities that influences a small number of visitors to
visit such places that can be related with unusable hobbies which are practiced by only few
numbers of peoples. It has become one of the important part of tourism industry in recent times
because present visitors are highly dedicated, confident about visiting or travelling new places
across the world to keep hope that they will find something different as compared mass tourism.
 Mass Tourism
Movement of a large number of dedicated tourists to visit only popular holiday destination for
entertaining purpose. Mass tourism involves thousands of people who come from same resort or
place or often at the same year. It is one of the most popular form of tourism. It is considered
cheapest way of spending holidays or often sales as package deal (Sousa, 2018). However, mass
tourism is the major source of great economic growth and brings positive impacts such as
increases monoculture, builds infrastructure and influences number of modern dwellings.
Differentiation b/w special interest tourism and mass tourism
Points for
differentiation Special interest tourism (SIT) Mass tourism
Tourist number in
ratio with locals
There are around 15 people considers
special interest tourist who always seeks
for new experience in order to lead level
of satisfaction in entire SIT. The ratio of
local tourist is about 4-5% in SIT.
On the other hand, mass
tourism involves more than
1000 of people who come to
spend their holidays on most
popular places whereas in
already most of the people
have visited. In the mass
tourism, ratio of local tourist

is estimated 50% as
compared special interest
tourisms.
Seasonality
Special interest tourism does not depend
on seasonality. Whenever they want to
take some new experience then they
select such tourism place which improves
their knowledge. Places are like industrial
visit, adventurist place etc. selects by
SITs.
On the other hand, mass
interest tourists always makes
plan according to season then
decides to visit popular places
like holiday places and
others.
Price/quality of
trade off
Special interest tourism does not
compromise with quality of product and
services. Such tourists are ready to give
hike price to get high quality product ad
services.
While mass tourism are ready
to compromise with quality
of product or services
because they have aim to visit
place. In this mass tourism
lots of people who have
variation in disposable
incomes. So according to
their budget they take
services and product as well.
Market power of
international
tourism operators
The market power of international
tourism operators is quite weak for the
special interest tourisms because tourists
always desire to visit such place whereas
no one is visited. In this situation
international tourism operators power
become weak as compared mass tourisms
(Wang and Meng, 2016).
While in the case of mass
tourism, market power of
international tourist operators
is quite high as compared SIT
case. The reason behind is
that mass tourists are in high
number of people so it
become easy for the
international operators to
attract them to visit popular
places.

Differentiation of
products
Special interest tourism always focus on
product differentiation because they
come to visit special places so they
requires proper deafferentation in each
product or place.
As compared, mass tourism
does not requires to
differentiate all products
because mass visitors comes
to visit only few popular
places so they do not care of
product differentiation.
P2 Examine examples of special interest tourism product, services, experience and providers at
different markets
 Dark Tourism: Such tourism places wherein includes some darkest event of human being
that have unfolded like genocide, war and disaster etc. that offers by market providers i.e.
Australia. It is developed country whereas SIT are attracted by it’s darkest event and
level of satisfaction in tourist is too much because it is developed country (Wen and Wu,
2020). So, there are various market provides who provides best experience to the SIT by
offering best travelling, accommodation etc. services.
 Adventure Tourism: It is a type of tourism wherein visitors do some adventuring
activities like hill climbing, skydiving etc. India is one of the most famous country for
adventure tourism because there are various adventurist places whereas special interest
tourists easily gain great experience. level of services are not good in India because it is
developing country wherein products an services are developing.
 Youth Tourism: It is a type of tourisms which contains number of independent travellers
who does not accompanied by their parents and comes to visit place for a year. Australia
is one of the best place for the youth tourism whereas give special type product and
services to the special interest tourists and young generation tourists also gains new and
best experience.

REFRENECES
Books and Journals
Novotná, M and et.al., 2019. Special Interest Tourism in the Czech Republic: Introduction and
Overview. Czech Journal of Tourism, 8(1), pp.49-63.
Sousa, B., 2018. The role of innovation in special interest tourism: a theoretical approach.
Wang, X. and Meng, T., 2016. The research of customers satisfaction and public policy &
marketing design in special interest tourism-Macao culinary tourism. International
Journal of Business and Management, 11(1), p.124.
Wen, J. and Wu, M.Y., 2020. How special is special interest tourism–and how special are special
interest tourists? A perspective article in a Chinese context. Current Issues in Tourism,
pp.1-5.