Special Interest Tourism: Definitions, Characteristics, and Examples

This report provides a comprehensive overview of special interest tourism, contrasting it with mass tourism. It begins by defining both types of tourism, highlighting the primary motivations and target markets. The report then differentiates between the characteristics of special interest tourism and mass tourism, including aspects like the number of tourists, seasonality, product differentiation, spatial patterns, economic returns, environmental pressure, and the education level of the market. Furthermore, the report examines four examples of special interest tourism products, experiences, services, and providers within different markets: dark tourism, adventure tourism, agri-tourism, and sport tourism. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and emphasizing the distinctions between special interest and mass tourism. The report is a valuable resource for students studying tourism and related fields.

Online assessment-special interest
tourism

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Defining special interest tourism as well as mass tourism..........................................................1
Differentiating 7 characteristics of the special interest from that of mainstream mass tourism. 1
Examining 4 examples of the special interest tourism products, experiences, services and
providers within different market...............................................................................................2
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Special interest tourism is referred to as the travelling with the primary set of motive to
practice and enjoy special interest. This study focuses on defining special interest tourism as well
as mass tourism. The present study examines examples of the special interest tourism products in
different market.
MAIN BODY
Defining special interest tourism as well as mass tourism.
Special interest tourism is referred to as the travelling with the primary set of motive to
practice and enjoy special interest. However, this mainly comprise of activities, unusual hobbies,
destinations and themes in order to attract niche market (Ma, Kirilenko, and Stepchenkova,
2020). It is mainly linked with the customized set of tourism activities which mainly focuses on
effectively catering the needs and special interest of the specific group or individual person.
Special interest tourism is useful in satisfying the passion by exploring new set of destination. On
the other hand, mass tourism is referred to as a movement of the large organized tourist towards
popular holiday destination especially for the recreational purpose (Lee, and Bai, 2016). It is
often considered to be as the cheapest way to do holiday and is mainly sold in package deal.
Differentiating 7 characteristics of the special interest from that of mainstream mass tourism.
1. Number of package tourists: The mass tourism has relative number of tourists and special
tourist tourism has absolute number of tourists.
2. Seasonality: Mass tourism is considered to be highly seasonal. The key objective
associated with the mass tourism is to gaze snow and sunny beaches for the temporal set
of activities. Special interest tourism seasonality is moderately seasonal.
3. Differentiation of products: Special interest tourism is based upon the interest of specific
group or individual. Mass tourism products mainly comprise of skiing in mountains,
visiting theme park and sunbathing in beach (6 Most Important Characteristics of Mass
Tourism, 2020).
4. Spatial patterns related with accommodation: Mass tourism is highly spatially polarised
when compared with the special interest tourism. It helps in distinguishing the things and
also places which are worthy of the gaze.
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5. Economic return to destination community: Mass tourism leads to high degree of
economic return because large number of tourists attract towards specific destination and
spend more when compared with the special interest tourists.
6. Pressure on environment: Mass tourism tends to assemble large number of tourists within
the small set of area which in turn eventually creates high degree of environmental
pressure. Special interest tourism tends to assemble small number of tourists which has
lower impact on environment (Handayani, Seraphin and Korstanje, 2019).
7. Education level of the market: People or individuals within mass tourism are likely to be
more educated w compared with the special interest tourism.
Examining 4 examples of the special interest tourism products, experiences, services and
providers within different market.
1. Dark tourism: Dark tourism is linked with the special interest tourism which is mainly
linked with the death, grief, pain, etc. Examples, Chernobyl in USA. It mainly involves
travelling to the places which is mainly linked with the tragedy and death.
2. Adventure tourism: The natural environment of the South Africa is considered to be
significant in carrying out adventure tourism activities ()Smith, and Puczkó, 2015. It
mainly includes bungee jumping, mountaineering, mountain biking, scuba diving, rafting,
cycling, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, exploring, zip-lining, paragliding, canyoneering,
caving, sandboarding, and rock climbing
3. Agri- tourism: This is one of the significant concept within the Indian tourism which
mainly occurs within the farm. It is useful in giving significant opportunity to the tourists
in order to experience the authentic and enchanting contact with the rural life. It is useful
in preserving the rural lifestyle and offers key opportunity towards green and sustainable
tourism. Organic culture is a significant cultural evolution.
4. Sport tourism: Sport tourism is mainly linked with the travelling which involves either
participation or observation within the sporting event. Sport tourism is considered to be
as one of the fast growing industry (Smith, and Puczkó, 2015). The key sports within the
UK which attracts tourists are rugby, cricket, tennis, badminton, athletics, boxing, golf,
motorsport, horseracing, cycling, etc.
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CONCLUSION
From the conducted study it has been summarized that, mass tourism is referred to as a
movement of the large organized tourist towards popular holiday destination. Special interest
tourism is referred to as the travelling with the primary set of motive to practice specific set of
interest.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Handayani, B., Seraphin, H. and Korstanje, M.E. eds., 2019. Special Interest Tourism in
Southeast Asia: Emerging Research and Opportunities: Emerging Research and Opportunities.
IGI Global.
Lee, S. and Bai, B., 2016. Influence of popular culture on special interest tourists' destination
image. Tourism Management, 52, pp.161-169.
Ma, S.D., Kirilenko, A.P. and Stepchenkova, S., 2020. Special interest tourism is not so special
after all: Big data evidence from the 2017 Great American Solar Eclipse. Tourism
Management, 77, p.104021.
Rittichainuwat, B.N., 2018. Special interest tourism. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Smith, M. and Puczkó, L., 2015. More than a special interest: Defining and determining the
demand for health tourism. Tourism Recreation Research, 40(2), pp.205-219.
Online
6 Most Important Characteristics of Mass Tourism. 2020. [ONLINE]. Available through<
https://www.shareyouressays.com/knowledge/6-most-important-characteristics-of-mass-
tourism/111172>
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