‘Nostalgia. It ain’t what it used to be!’

Image by Pexels (CC0) va Pixabay.

Our travel tastes are often shaped by the memories of childhood holiday experiences, or of stories passed down through the generations. Marketers often play to this. What is the role of nostalgia in holidaymaking, from an individual or commercial perspective?

It’s a “Good Tourism” Insight Bites question.

Your correspondent put the question to the travel & tourism stakeholders in the “GT” network, inviting responses of no more than 300 words. (You too can join the “GT” network. Register.)

Thanks to the three who took the time to share their thoughts on the question. Their answers appear in the order received. (You too can share your opinions with “GT”.)

Bites menu

• ‘Some things were better in the past’ | Jim Butcher, Reader, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK
• ‘Postalgia’ and the power of presence | K Michael Haywood, publisher, ‘Destinations-in-Action’, Canada
• ‘A powerful driving force’ | Richard Butler, Emeritus Professor of Tourism, University of Strathclyde, Scotland
• What do you think?
• Previous “GT” Insight Bites