Study on Social Tourism in EU from Modern Perspectives and Policy Framework

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24611007
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Tourism Studies
• Research Institution: Shumei University (2013-2014); Oita University (2012)
• Principal Investigator: OKA TATSUYA 秀明大学, 人文社会・教育科学系, 准教授 (40572110)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): ADACHI Motohiro 和歌山大学, 経済学部, 教授 (30283948)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ソーシャル・ツーリズム / 観光政策 / 国際研究者交流 / 国際情報交換 / アメリカ / イギリス / ベルギー / フランダース

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study investigates the development of social tourism in EU countries through the literature review, interviews and discussions with experts in the field of social tourism studies. Policy frameworks to support the social tourism in Japan used to put emphasis on providing public accommodations to the general public and workers, while those of the EU countries have targeted the demand side and incentives of the deprived people in poverty and / or handicapped people. In Belgium the cooperation between social welfare department and tourism promotion department seems to be working, and tourism industries have introduced more affordable ‘social rates’ for the participants to promote travels by low-income people; in UK privately funded organizations have supported families with low income to promote their holiday participation and travel. These case studies are expected to serve as a key role for tourism policy and planning to promote social tourism in Japan in the near future.

Free Research Field

観光学