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Abstract
Yarnal, Careen Mackay
and Deborah Kerstetter, "Casting Off: An
Exploration of Cruise Ship Space, Group Tour, Behavior, and Social
Interaction," Journal
of Travel Research, 2005, 43:4 (May),
368-380.
Growth in tourism duringthe past 20 years means more
people
are using physical
spaces away from home for vacation. Yet research on vacation spaces is
noticeably absent Focusing on a cruise ship, the
primary purpose of this article is to draw attention to how social
interaction in a group vacation context intersects with vacation
experiences. A
secondary purpose is to introduce space and how it can extend thinking
about the
role that tourism spaces play in the development of social interaction.
The results indicate that
individuals
use cruise ships to feel at ease and comfortable with themselves, as
well as in
control and liberated. They also develop social interactions
during a cruise and make "playful" spaces on the cruise ship. Using
these themes, the authors highlight limitations in current
conceptualizations
of tourism behavior. The authors also suggest how cruise lines might
use the
study to create more meaningful passenger experiences.
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