Souvenirs: What and Why We Buy

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Author(s)
Wilkins, Hugh
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2011
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The souvenir is an important component of the tourist experience, with most tourists bringing back mementos and souvenirs as evidence. People like to be reminded of special moments in their lives and to hold evidence of those special moments. However, despite the considerable previous research into souvenirs and purchase behavior, little research exists that investigates the motivations for souvenir purchase. In addition, there has been little investigation of the impact of gender on the souvenirs purchased and the motivations for purchase. This research addresses these gaps in the literature and evaluates the souvenir ...
View more >The souvenir is an important component of the tourist experience, with most tourists bringing back mementos and souvenirs as evidence. People like to be reminded of special moments in their lives and to hold evidence of those special moments. However, despite the considerable previous research into souvenirs and purchase behavior, little research exists that investigates the motivations for souvenir purchase. In addition, there has been little investigation of the impact of gender on the souvenirs purchased and the motivations for purchase. This research addresses these gaps in the literature and evaluates the souvenir purchase behavior of tourists. The research identifies the core importance of the souvenir as evidence of the experience as well as the roles of memory and as gifts.
View less >
View more >The souvenir is an important component of the tourist experience, with most tourists bringing back mementos and souvenirs as evidence. People like to be reminded of special moments in their lives and to hold evidence of those special moments. However, despite the considerable previous research into souvenirs and purchase behavior, little research exists that investigates the motivations for souvenir purchase. In addition, there has been little investigation of the impact of gender on the souvenirs purchased and the motivations for purchase. This research addresses these gaps in the literature and evaluates the souvenir purchase behavior of tourists. The research identifies the core importance of the souvenir as evidence of the experience as well as the roles of memory and as gifts.
View less >
Journal Title
Journal of Travel Research
Volume
50
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2011 SAGE Publications. This is the author-manuscript version of the paper. Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version.
Subject
Tourism not elsewhere classified
Commercial Services
Marketing
Tourism