Tourist watching: arguments for and recent applications of systematic observation

Abstract

There are two core and intersecting aims of this paper. First, the value of observational studies in tourism research, and particularly tourist behaviour research will be considered. This consideration will include an account of the origins of the method in allied study fields such as ethology, environmental psychology and anthropology /sociology. The scope of the method, its complexity and some issues especially associated with this research method will be raised. As a second aim the paper will report on two recent studies by the researcher using observation as a field work technique studying visitors to a regional Australian destination. The insights obtained using observational approaches will be considered in a newly built visitor centre and at a "dangerous" attraction. The value of the method will be considered both for the immediate studies and for tourism research more generally.