2. Deterrent to Travel
While travel has become a popular social phenomenon, there are a number of reasons why
people do not travel extensively or do not travel at all.
The reasons, products of psychological analysis, are not meant to be ultimate answers as to
why people travel where they do.
We can, however, look at the more concrete reasons why those studied did not go on a trip
during a certain period of time.
3. Deterrent to Travel
According to Goeldner and Ritchie , barriers to travel fall into six broad
categories.
1. Cost
2. Lack of time
3. Health limitations
4. Family stage
5. Lack of interest
6. Fear and safety
4. Cost
Consumers operate within monetary constraints, and travel must compete with
other allocations of funds. Saying that travel is too expensive is an indirect way
of saying that travel is not important, but, even allowing this interpretation,
costs are a principal reason for staying home.
5. Lack of time
Many people cannot leave their businesses, jobs, or professions for vacation
purposes.
6. Health limitations
Poor health and physical limitations keep many persons at home. Also, the
fear of contracting AIDS, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), malaria,
Norwalk flu, bird flu, Legionnaire's disease, food poisoning, and so on keeps
people from traveling. For many, health has become a major tourism safety
issue.
7. Family Stage
Parents of young children often do not travel because of family obligations and
inconveniences in traveling with children. Widows and singles sometimes do
not travel because of the lack of a traveling companion.
8. Lack of Interest
Unawareness of travel destinations that would bring pleasurable satisfaction is
a major barrier.
9. Fear and Safety
Things unknown are often feared, and in travel, much is often not familiar to
the would-be traveler. Wars, unrest, and negative publicity about an area will
create doubt and fear in the mind of the prospective traveler. Terrorism has
reared its ugly head in the last decade and is a deterrent to travel.
