The effect of self-congruity and motivation on consumer-based destination brand equity:
Achieving destination appeal and a competitive edge is a priority aim of tourist destination managers. The objective of this study is to help explain the formation of brand equity as a competitive ...
In 1899 Thorstein Veblen wrote a seminal monograph on the subject of consumption and leisure. ::: His work, The Theory of the Leisure Class, is one of the most enduring examples of status-seeking ::: individuals� conspicuous consumption and conspicuous leisure practices, particularly when applied ::: to the tourist industry, and furthermore, is still relevant in today�s economic climate. This article ::: develops an independent theory of backpackers and how they can be perceived as undertaking ::: conspicuous consumption and conspicuous leisure practices. This is done using Veblen�s work as ::: a foundation. Qualitative methods using in-depth interviews and participant observation techniques ::: are employed to obtain data from 41 participants. The findings serve to highlight the fact that ::: Veblen�s thesis is as relevant today as it was when it was written in 1899.