Conceptual differentiation between the motivational form of tourism and the type of tourism

Abstract

The distinction between the forms and types of tourism constitutes an essential conceptual approach in the study of the tourism phenomenon, as it clarifies both the individual motivations of the tourist and the concrete way of manifestation of the tourism activity in time and space. Although these two concepts are frequently used interchangeably in the specialized language, from a scientific perspective, they must be differentiated, because they offer distinct perspectives: one is focused on motivation, the other on the way tourism activities are carried out es. The research carried out highlights the systemic confusion that persists in the tourism business environment regarding the use of these concepts and proposes an empirically validated distinctive framework, in which motivation defines the form of tourism, and the way of organization defines the type of tourism. This distinction is relevant in the current context, being marked by the diversification of the tourism offer, the emergence of mass tourism and the necessity for sustainable development of tourist destinations. Thus, any specialized analysis, whether theoretical or applied, must integrate a complete and structural understanding of contemporary tourism. The article also includes an empirical study on the practical validation of the research results.