Social interactions between visitors in New Zealand

Date: 6 August 2014 Time: 12.30 pm

The importance of the social aspect of travelling in general and contacts between visitors in particular has not been questioned. In fact, as tourists we are rarely alone but nearly always find ourselves in the proximity of other visitors. However, little is known about how visitor-visitor interactions manifest themselves, what impact the contact with other visitors can have on holidays and what personal meaning they hold for individuals.
Ina’s PhD research examines social interactions between previously unacquainted independent travellers in New Zealand. In doing so, it addresses the reasons why visitors interact with each other, what the dimensions and natures of these interactions are, how they are perceived and evaluated and how they can impact the visitor experience in New Zealand.

Ina Reichenberger is about to complete her PhD degree with the Tourism Management Group at Victoria University. With a background in Sociology, she worked as a research fellow in tourism at the University of Passau in Germany before beginning her studies in New Zealand in 2011.

Any queries please email: tourism@vuw.ac.nz