ITM Bachelor 1. Sem
8029: Introduction International Tourism Management
           We 08.15 - 09.45 h (+ other dates) Audimax II

 DEMAND SIDE:

Product: Memories

 "What we perceive is is very often as much a product of what we want to perceive as of what is actually there." (Meyer/Reynolds 1967)

 "Memorable moments" are the main products of the tourism industry.
 (Geoffrey Godbey)

 Media for remembering: Souvenirs, postcards, photos

 Since the beginning of tourism, travellers brought back things from abroad.

 One reason is the possibility to TRADE these items, either in
- real terms of selling the actual things or in
- symbolic terms of Bourdieu's cultural capital,

by giving them away.

 Another reason is to use these things to help them remembering their visits and their experiences abroad by keeping them.

Souvenirs:

Souvenirs help to prove your visit to a certain place and your thoughfullness about other people during your visit. They are part of the reassurance of social relations.

In different societies this is organized on different levels of formalization, f.i. in Japan a clear relations exists between senbetsu (the parting gift in kind or symbol) and omiyage (souvenir brought back to senbetsu giver).

In western society this is less clear:

What constitutes a souvenir also differs in different societies:

- a "typical" item, famous for this destination versus

- a "special" item, with relation to the person it is given to.

 What will souvenirs from virtual travel look like: Bookmarks?

  Contact: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt, Study Program Director
Bachelor and Master Program International Tourism Management
arlt@fh-westkueste.de, Office 2.018, Tel. 0481 8555-513
Consultation hours (during lecture period): Wednesday 11.00 - 12.00 h