Anomie, ego-enhancement and tourism

The present paper attempts to provide an answer to the much neglected sociological treatment of tourist motivation, with specific reference to the question, “What makes tourists travel?” A theoretical case is suggested for concentration on “push” factors, and, in particular, those stemming from “anomie” and “ego-enhancement” in the tourist himself. It is further argued that the presence of such factors is conducive to the creation of a fantasy world, one to which he plans a periodic escape. At the empirical level, the study evaluates the above two concepts in the light of a recent investigation of visitors' attitudes to Barbados. Thecomponents of the typology are also briefly examined.