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 Introduction: Preparing and remembering your vacation

 "What we perceive is is very often as much a product of what we want to perceive as of what is actually there."
(Meyer/Reynolds 1967)

In deciding where to spend the next vacation and in preparing for this vacation the mental image of the destination plays an important role.

"Vorfreude" is a important part of the vacation itself.

"Memorable moments" are the main products of the tourism industry. (Geoff Godbey)

The comparison of the mental image formed before and the mental image of what is remembered about a vacation will decide about the verdict about the quality of this vacation.

It can be argued that the challenge for the tourist industry is to know about - better: influence - the mental image of different target groups and cater for their needs regardless of the "real" local situation and also influence the memories to produce happy customers. The destinations task will be to improve its ability to satisfy the tourists needs.

Following this line of thinking, the actual vacation/leisure activity itself would then be the least important part of the three parts of the activity
(before - during - after).

 Contact: wolfgang.arlt@fh-stralsund.de  Office: 1/132, Tel. (03831) 45 6961