The Intensity of Tourist-Host Social Relationship and its Effects on Satisfaction and Change in Attitudes: The Case of Working Tourists in Israel

The results of a study conducted among 388 working tourists in Israel demonstrated that the higher the intensity of the social relationship between hosts and working tourists, the more favorable were the tourists’ feelings towards their hosts, and the more positive was the change in attitudes towards hosts and the destination. Furthermore, it was found that the higher the intensity of social relationship between hosts and tourists, the higher was the satisfaction of these tourists with their stay and experience. Those who had the most intense social relationship with their hosts — namely the Kibbutz tourists — had the highest positive feelings towards their hosts and also experienced the highest positive change in attitudes towards them and the destination. On the other side, those who had a more superficial social relationship with their hosts — namely Moshav and City tourists — had the lowest positive feelings towards their hosts and experienced the lowest positive change towards them and the destination