TESTING AN INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ROLE TYPOLOGY

Two decades ago, Cohen proposed a typology of international tourist ro les across a novelty-familiarity continuum. His widely cited typology has subsequently been conceptually refined, but has never empirically substantiated. This study developed a reliable and valid attitudinal s cale for testing Cohen's typology. Three purposive samples were used i n a comprehensive item testing and verification process, and another s ample helped confirm the dimensionality of the scale. The final 20-ite m, three dimensional instrument is both reliable and valid. The Intern ational Tourist Role Scale (ITR) was effective for operationalizing Co hen's typology and may help extend his ground - breaking conceptual wo rk.