There are many different types of tourists, which can be
classified in a number of ways:
By Product
Mass Tourism
Alternative Tourism
Package tour
Ecotourism
By nature of the activity:
Active
Passive
Adventure tourism
Ecotourism
Golf
Sightseeing
Beach holiday
Cruise
Location preference
Coastal
Rural
City
Mountains
Lakes
Costa Brava
Garrotxa
Barcelona
Pyrenees
Banyoles
Duration of trip and distance
travelled
Day trip
Weekend break
Annual holiday
Local
National
International
By purpose
Business or Pleasure
Pleasure: need for change, see
something new
* Culture (ethnic)
* History, heritage
* Nature-based (eco-) tourism
* Farm-based, rural tourism
* Personal development, health
* Visit friends, family
* Social status (to brag!)
* Recreation
By age/socio-economic group
Backpackers
Empty Nesters
DINKS
SINKS
Early/Active Retirees
Boomers
Youth
Backpackers: 18-24 years, no children. Attracted to adventurous activity.
Consider themselves travellers not tourists. Generally well-educated. Cost
conscious. DINKS: Double Income No Kids. SINKS: Single Income No Kids.
Both Dinks and Sinks: younger people, between 25 and 35 years of age, no
children, affluent. Empty Nesters: Parents whose children have flown the family nest. Between
45 and 55 of age, well educated, high disposable income. Boomers: members of the baby boom generation in the 1950s.
Youths: Between 18 and 25 of age, not well-educated, low disposable income,
are used to travelling, (have learned it during the upbringing) and know how to
indulge 'the good life'.
