Despite the fact that horse-based tourism is popular as a high-impact recreational activity, this research field has received little attention. Although motivation theories have been related to jobs and tourism in general, little is known about the target groups of equestrian tourists.
The purpose of this study is to investigate, how the Landsmót affect the motivation of the German Icelandic Horse community regarding their decision to travel to Iceland. Special focus was put on their individual motivation to visit the Landsmót and the resulting impact on their final travel decision.
To identify correlations between tourist motivation and destination choice, the study is based on a cross-sectional explanatory research purpose, using a mixed-model research method which consists of a survey and an archival research.
Responses from 222 German Icelandic Horse community members were used in order to answer the research questions. The results illustrate, regardless of gender, that equestrian tourists of the German Icelandic Horse community were mostly motivated by entertainment and aesthetic needs, rather than escape or self-esteem. However, comparisons based on the colonial cup race study by Daniels and Norman (2005) show significant differences in the motivation need of group affiliation.
No direct correlation exists between the travel motivation of the Icelandic Horse community of Germany and the Landsmót. Despite its significant publicity among the German Icelandic Horse community, it is not part of the process of choosing this destination because of this special horse-based event. According to that the Landsmót it is not the determining factor for choosing Iceland as a travel destination.
Nevertheless, this study provides a background and status quo for further specific investigations, regarding the travel behaviour of Icelandic Horse Community of Germany.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 1.1 Introduction
- 1.2 Research aim
- 1.3 Research question
- 2. Literature Review
- 2.1 Introduction
- 2.2 Iceland
- 2.2.1 Economy
- 2.2.1.1 Recession
- 2.2.2 Tourism
- 2.2.2.1 Horse-based Tourism in Iceland
- 2.2.2.2 The Icelandic Horse
- 2.2.2.3 The Landsmót
- 2.2.1 Economy
- 2.3 Tourist behaviour
- 2.3.1 Differentiation between consumer and tourist behaviour
- 2.3.2 Tourist decision-making process
- 2.4 Tourist motivation
- 2.4.1 Need-based motivation
- 2.4.2 Motivation of equestrian tourists
- 3. Methodology
- 3.1 Rationale behind the methodology
- 3.2 Limitations
- 3.3 The sample
- 3.4 Primary data
- 3.4.1 Survey
- 3.4.2 Pilot test
- 3.5 Secondary data
- 3.5.1 Multiple source
- 3.5.2 Survey-based secondary data
- 4. Presentation & Analysis of Findings
- 4.1 Participants relation to Icelandic Horses
- 4.2 Iceland
- 4.3 The Landsmót
- 4.3.1 Motivation of visiting the Landsmót
- 4.4 Demographic numbers
- 5. Discussion of findings
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This study aims to investigate the motivational factors influencing German Icelandic Horse community members' travel decisions to attend the Landsmót in Iceland. The research focuses on understanding individual motivations and their impact on the final travel choice, utilizing a mixed-methods approach involving surveys and archival research.
- Motivational factors driving equestrian tourism.
- The role of the Landsmót in influencing travel decisions.
- Comparison of motivational needs with existing research on equestrian tourism.
- Analysis of the relationship between tourist motivation and destination choice.
- The impact of the Landsmót's publicity on travel choices.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the research topic of equestrian tourism, highlighting its popularity despite limited academic attention. It establishes the research aim of investigating the Landsmót's influence on the German Icelandic Horse community's travel decisions to Iceland, focusing on individual motivations and their effect on the final decision. The chapter also clearly defines the research question guiding the study.
2. Literature Review: This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of existing literature relevant to the study. It covers aspects of Iceland's economy and tourism sector, with a specific focus on horse-based tourism and the significance of the Icelandic horse and the Landsmót event. The chapter also delves into relevant theories of tourist behavior and motivation, particularly focusing on the needs-based motivation theory and its application to equestrian tourists. This lays the foundation for understanding the theoretical framework used in the subsequent analysis.
3. Methodology: This chapter details the research methodology employed, justifying the choice of a mixed-model approach combining survey and archival research. It explains the rationale for this approach, discussing its strengths and limitations, while also providing details about the study's sample, data collection methods (including the survey and pilot test), and the various sources of secondary data used. This chapter ensures transparency and allows for critical evaluation of the research design and its potential biases.
4. Presentation & Analysis of Findings: This chapter presents and analyzes the findings of the study, including data on the participants' relationship with Icelandic horses, their perceptions of Iceland, and their motivations for visiting the Landsmót. The results of the survey and any relevant archival data are detailed and analyzed in this section, offering insights into demographic patterns and their relation to motivations. Key findings concerning the motivational aspects of the Landsmót are also discussed.
5. Discussion of findings: This chapter interprets and discusses the findings presented in Chapter 4, relating them to the established theoretical framework. It addresses the research questions posed in the introduction, offering explanations and insights into the data. The chapter also discusses any limitations of the study and potential avenues for future research in this area. It contextualizes the findings within the broader literature on equestrian tourism and tourist motivation.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Equestrian tourism, Icelandic horse, Landsmót, tourist motivation, travel behavior, destination choice, mixed-methods research, survey, archival research, Germany, Iceland.
Frequently Asked Questions: Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this research?
This research investigates the motivational factors influencing German Icelandic Horse community members' travel decisions to attend the Landsmót in Iceland. It focuses on understanding individual motivations and their impact on the final travel choice, using a mixed-methods approach.
What is the Landsmót?
The Landsmót is a significant event for Icelandic horses, playing a crucial role in the motivations of German Icelandic Horse community members to travel to Iceland.
What methodology was used in this research?
The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys and archival research. This involved collecting primary data through surveys (including a pilot test) and secondary data from multiple sources, including survey-based secondary data.
What are the key themes explored in this research?
Key themes include motivational factors driving equestrian tourism, the role of the Landsmót in influencing travel decisions, comparison of motivational needs with existing research, analysis of the relationship between tourist motivation and destination choice, and the impact of the Landsmót's publicity on travel choices.
What are the key findings summarized?
The findings cover participants' relationship with Icelandic horses, their perceptions of Iceland, motivations for visiting the Landsmót, demographic patterns, and the motivational aspects of the Landsmót. A detailed analysis of these findings is presented in the study.
What is the structure of the document?
The document includes an introduction, a literature review covering Icelandic economy, tourism (especially horse-based tourism), tourist behavior, and tourist motivation. It details the methodology, presents and analyzes findings, and concludes with a discussion of the findings, relating them to the theoretical framework and addressing limitations.
What are the key words associated with this research?
Key words include: Equestrian tourism, Icelandic horse, Landsmót, tourist motivation, travel behavior, destination choice, mixed-methods research, survey, archival research, Germany, Iceland.
What is the aim of the research?
The research aims to investigate the motivational factors influencing German Icelandic Horse community members’ travel decisions to attend the Landsmót in Iceland.
What is the research question?
While not explicitly stated in the provided summary, the research question is implied: What are the motivational factors that influence German members of the Icelandic Horse community to travel to Iceland for the Landsmót?
What types of data were used?
Both primary data (from surveys and a pilot test) and secondary data (from multiple sources, including survey-based secondary data) were utilized.
- Citar trabajo
- Meike Bruch (Autor), 2012, Motivation of equestrian tourists to travel to a horse-based event, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/198871
