PRESTIGE-WORTHY TOURISM BEHAVIOR

The conferrence of prestige is often acknowledged in the leisure trave l literature but rarely investigated. Based on ''long interviews'' and a modified grounded-theory analysis procedure, this paper investigate s the underlying dimensions of travel-related prestige and the relatio nship of the prestige conferrer to the conferree. Relative exclusivity and personal/empathetic desirability were found to he the two underly ing dimensions of prestige-worthy leisure travel. The prestige conferr ence relationship was a concomitant act of observer-acknowledged desir e and deferrence for the person engaged in the act of leisure travel.