청소년의 관광경험 분석

An Analysis of Adolescents’ Tourism Experiences

This study was to explore adolescents’ tourism experiences by using a qualitative research method. In order to explain adolescents' tourism experiences., this study reviewed three relevant theories: the expectation theory, contact theory and social distance theory. Data were collected from seven highschool students who have travelled to Japan in 2008. They were interviewed twice at the departure and arrival time. The analysis of the data revealed that adolescents had previous perceptions for the destination and also had expectations before travelling. During the travel, they had various kinds of contacts and these contacts narrowed or increased their social distances to the destination. In particular, when the social distances were narrowed, the attitudes for the destination was changed positively. Findings of this study suggest that tourism experiences could broaden adolescent's view of the world and produce attitude changes in cross-cultural contacts and understanding. This process could be described as A-TEM(Adolescents' Tourism Experience Model).