Backpacker Achievement and Environmental Controllability as Visitor Motivators

Abstract

This study has applied the motivational constructs of Achievement, Affiliation and Power to the visitor behaviour domain. Such motivational constructs have enjoyed a long history of research in domains such as organizational and consumer behaviour, but have received relatively little attention within the tourist motivation context. The major motivators to emerge involved Achievement and Environmental Controllability (or Power), with Achievement motivation predictive of a high value being placed on vacations, and also relaxation as a major vacation goal. Older visitors were found more likely to be associated with high Achievement and high Environmental Controllability motivators, and females more likely to be associated with higher Environmental Controllability motivation. Finally, higher Achievement motivated visitors were found to be less likely to report anticipated negative interactions with local residents. The implications of these findings are explored, particularly for groups such as Regional Tourism Authorities.