More than just vacation : exploring the relevance of interest, interests, and enjoyment for tourist experiences

Abstract

This study sought to explore the relationship between interest, interests, and enjoyment in a tourist experience in order to learn more about how interest for something in a destination can be triggered and developed. A total of 100 tourists (57.3% women) who visited Tromsø between November 2008 and March 2009 participated in a questionnaire study. The questionnaire was three-folded with measures collected before (T1), during (T2), and after (T3) the excursion. The excursions in this study were able to reinforce interest for tourists with prior personal interests and arouse situational interest among tourists without a pre-existing interest. However, the situational interest was weaker than personal interest in terms of evoking a desire to do similar things again. Leisure Motivations influenced both Interest and Enjoyment in the end of the excursion, though this was more important for Interest. Further study of the role of enjoyment in sustaining of the new interest is warranted. The results of the study are discussed in light of interest development theories and implications for the tourism industry.