What Does Psychocentric Mean in Tourism?

By Alice Nichols

If you are a tourism enthusiast, you might have come across the term “psychocentric” in your travels. Psychocentricity is a concept used to describe people’s personalities and their travel preferences. In this article, we will explore what psychocentric means in tourism and how it affects travel decisions.

What is Psychocentricity?

Psychocentricity is a personality trait that describes people who prefer familiar environments, experiences, and routines. They are risk-averse and prefer activities that do not involve too much adventure or uncertainty. Psychocentrics tend to be more comfortable with traditional vacation activities like lounging on the beach or visiting museums rather than trying new things like extreme sports or bungee jumping.

How Does Psychocentricity Affect Travel?

Psychocentrics tend to choose destinations based on their familiarity, safety, and comfort level. They prefer popular tourist destinations with well-developed infrastructures and amenities such as hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions. They also prefer traveling in groups or with family members to feel secure and avoid potential risks.

  • Destination Choice: Psychocentrics typically choose destinations that offer predictable experiences such as theme parks or all-inclusive resorts.
  • Travel Style: They prefer organized tours or cruises that offer structured itineraries with clear schedules.
  • Activities: Psychocentrics enjoy activities that are comfortable, safe and require minimal effort such as sightseeing tours or spa treatments.

The Importance of Understanding Psychocentricity in Tourism

Understanding psychocentricity is important for tourism professionals when designing travel packages to cater to different types of tourists. It helps them develop products that meet the needs of psychocentrics by providing safe and predictable experiences. However, it is also important to cater to other types of tourists who seek adventure, new experiences and are willing to take risks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, psychocentricity is a personality trait that describes people who prefer familiar environments, experiences, and routines. They tend to choose destinations based on their safety and comfort level.

Understanding this concept is crucial for tourism professionals in designing travel products that meet the needs of psychocentrics. It is also important to cater to other types of tourists who seek adventure, new experiences, and are willing to take risks.