A Detailed Analysis of Gen Z Tourism: International Tourism Management

This essay evaluates the tourism experiences and practices of Generation Z, a sociological category shaped by information technologies and social networks. It contrasts their preferences with previous generations, highlighting their tech-savviness, environmental sensitivity, and desire for unique experiences. The essay notes Gen Z's influence on family purchasing decisions related to travel and their demand for meaningful and solidarity-based tourism. It further examines how Generation Z perceives tourism as a blend of displacement, environmental engagement, and temporal breaks from daily life, emphasizing cultural experiences, social networking, and the importance of connecting with local communities. The study concludes that treating Generation Z as a homogeneous group would be unproductive, as there are strong disparities between them and millennials, especially in destination choices and vacation principles.

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Introduction
As widely theorized in the domain of social sciences in contemporary society, tourism
and leisure have no longer been identified as an enduring part of life. Rather than recognizing it
as a residual part of life, tourism has been identified as high value activities which primarily
contribute to the construction of the identity of social actors. According to Gardiner, Grace and
King (2014), tourism is understood as a dynamic phenomenon which undergoes changes with
other social developments. Reports of Yeoman and McMahon-Beatte (2016) have noted that new
trends and developments in tourism can be explicitly understood only in the context of the
structural development of society in general. The more significant factors from this perspective
especially in the Western context have relied to the globalization process, along with
development of infrastructure in addition to the ubiquity of communication tools. These factors
according to Garg, Rahman and Qureshi (2014) tend to have a major impact on the development
of new tourism practices. The importance of youth tourism on a global scale has been identified
as a critical challenge for tourists as well as professionals. The aim of the following essay is to
evaluate tourism experiences of Generation Z and their practices. Additionally, it will focus on
the way Gen Z’s tourism experiences and practices vary from their previous generations.
Discussion
The expression ‘Generation Z’ fundamentally refers to newly developed sociological
category that has been cultivated by the information technologies, the internet and the social
networks. However, it is important to note that the term “Generation Z” regardless of its media
development has obtained an insignificant amount of attention by academic research. According
to Gardiner, Grace and King (2014), while Generation Y has been subjective to substantial

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amount of exploration, Generation Z has been still identified as an underexplored issue.
Generation Z as per sociological perspective, has been growing up in a world which has been
surrounded by advanced technology, the internet, with smartphones, gadgets, video games and
screens. In leisure tourism sector, Generation Z has been typically represented as cultivated
mastering computer science and ICT. Woźniak et al. (2014) have noted that as Generation Z has
been identified to be highly difficult in order to retain as its levels of enthusiasms tend to be
diverse. Meanwhile, Watne, Brennan and Winchester (2014) have noted that as Generation Z
anticipate primarily appear to be highly sensitive to the protection of the environment and
support substantial level of open-mindedness, they tend to desire significant benefits and gains
from their tourism experiences. Furthermore, as the consumption of leisure stays often interpret
into a hedonistic behaviour, tourism concurrently acts as a moment of hospitality, socialisation,
and implication and of significant empowerment. According to Skinner, Sarpong and White
(2018), Generation Z as a newly emerging tourist segment tend to act opinionated in over 94% of
the purchasing decisions of their families and thus participate in the choice of the tourist
destinations. Research of Li et al. (2016) has shed light on a strong demand for “useful” travel
and a growing sensitivity to solidarity tourism.
It has been well noted that young people belonging to Generation Z have been
recognized as prescribers in several home purchasing decisions. However, Yeoman and
McMahon-Beatte (2016) have noted that while travelling with family Generation Z appears to be
guided by the choices of results. Moreover participation in the preparation of the experience only
appears to be distinct when an individual belonging to the Generation Z travels alone or with his
or her companion or friends. Studies of Garg, Rahman and Qureshi (2014) have shown that for
Generation Z, leisure tourism has typically been associated with a new experience as well as new

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tourist practices such as surfing on seacoast, skydiving, and bullfighting or visiting Christmas
market. According to Woźniak et al. (2014), Generation Z in comparison to the Millennials tend
to describe things they experience or something highly exceptional and extraordinary which
demonstrates a certain level of adventure, excitement and thorough enjoyment. For example for
Generation Z watching a monster truck show can be identified as an exceptional recreational
activity. This ‘out of ordinary’ presence has been associated with activities performed on site or
simply to landscape and an environment which has been perceived as different. Skinner, Sarpong
and White (2018) often mentioned in their studies the places visited are the tourist destinations
discovered along with the attributes of the tour related to the presence or absence of elders or
parents in addition to the type of accommodation and its duration. The knowledge of geographic
allocations as well as territories has been approximate. According to Watne, Brennan and
Winchester (2014), the explanation of the visited locations and tourist spots has typically been
identified as rapid. Has result for generation z the financial constraint things to remain highly
crucial in the making of these specific choices of mobility and dislocation. On the other hand, the
social and geographical region is also recognized as a vital bias. Moreover travel experiences
have been inadequate or limited especially outside the United Kingdom. At this juncture, authors
have shed light on the way a journey or tour has been presented as a time of relaxation, rest,
enjoyment, seeking pleasure or and even look for certain recreational activities in order to relax
and refuel (Setiawan et al. 2018). However, for the Generation Z, only primary principle of tour
is to have fun. For generation Z, tourist experience is perceived as a special breed with
displacement as well as environmental development but has also been viewed as a temporal
break. Young people belonging to the generation after the millennials change to differentiate the
two important concepts whereby travel has been associated with distant mobility and typically

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indicated by high expenses, while holidays have been identified as a simple exceptional break in
their daily lives. For this particular generation holidays are regarded to those breaks when
students can relax and enjoy their leisure time while travel is when individuals really leave
(Zsarnoczky et al. 2016).
Cultural breakthrough and change of scenery have always been linked with the idea of
travel tourism which helps individuals in discovering new cities States monuments as well as
cultural identities. Such a desire in order to discover has also being reflected in the interest given
to cultural events festivals and specifically nightlife in addition to genuinely to the atmosphere of
the tourist resort. Such an importance of cultural as well as leisure services in addition to the
quality of accommodation have often been mentioned in the tourism experiences of Generation Z
tourists. Comprehensive studies of Csobanka (2016) have mentioned Generation Z as a social
generation on various levels. The primary level typically concerns the community where buy this
generation relentlessly seeks to obtain awareness of its environment within its own group based
on families, friends and class mates. Such an understanding tends to facilities Generation Z to be
reassured in fact to prefer components which would generate the highest level of enjoyment
while they are travelling. On the other hand, the second level primary concerns regarding the
tourist experience of Generation Z and specifically emphasize on the need in order to make
experiences with the local people (Setiawan et al. 2018). This particular generation identifies
tourism experience as unconstructive event if they get no adequate knowledge or insights of the
people living there in the country, which they visit, which as a consequence end up their tourism
experience to be a failure or deficient activity.
For Generation Z, the opportunity to meet people of diverse backgrounds and cultures has
further been regarded as an occasion for rethinking the personality, similar to the mirror effect.

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On the other hand authors have shed light on the increasing use of social networking sites by the
generation Z which has significantly reduced the connection as well as limited to specific
functions. However according to Zsarnoczky et al. (2016), these exchanges significant sewer line
on the technical or financial limitations and further relying on whether the two will take place in
the United Kingdom or abroad along with the possibility of a free and unlimited internet
connection and other Technological services. Wang, Xiang and Fesenmaier (2014) have stated
that generation why has been significant clean exposed to social networking sites typically
without any filter for which marketing practitioners have comprehended the importance of using
these channels in order to capture their attention. However findings of Csobanka (2016) have
shown that generation Z on the other hand exhibit higher level of deviousness and awareness in
relation to social networking sites as well as their usages. As a result, Generation Z has been
recognised as an artistic generation which primary seeks to put forward their daily life events and
sells for example engrossed in posting ‘selfies’ on social media sites. Furthermore Generation Z
appears to produce greater level of modesty during tourist experiences. Principally living as an
exceptional moment, the tourist experience necessity to break with the daily routine and indulge
in the use of social networks.
Conclusion
Hence to conclude in the tourism sector treating generation Z as a homogeneous section
would be an unconstructive approach. Furthermore, strong disparities and gaps between
Generation Z and the millennials have been witnessed especially in the choices they have made
for a tourist destination and the underlying principles of vacation to each of the generation.
Members of Generation Z tend to have an insignificant of amount of influences on the

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destination choices and consequently have very basic understanding of the places which they
have had visited. These places have primary special recreational break for their regular lives.

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