Cultural Tourists Among Students from Toruń—Preliminary Profile

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to outline a sketch profile of a young Polish cultural tourist based on an empirical quantitative study, which involved a group of students of Nicholaus Copernicus University in Toruń (UMK). A total of 1,139 surveys were obtained from three different departments. The profile exhibits preferences, motivations, traits, and behaviours of a cultural tourist. Furthermore, an attempt has been made to compare the attained profile of a student from Toruń with the profile of a student from Poznań already presented by Buczkowska in 2014. The comparison of these two profiles seeks to establish similarities and differences in attitudes, preferences, and behaviours of young adults (tourists) studying in different cities. The study may later be extended to other social environments. The research indicated a considerable similarity in behaviours and preferences of both surveyed groups, which could lead to a conclusion that Polish students as a social group exhibit traits characteristic of cultural tourists. It may also mean that learning about culture(s), as well as experiencing it, is of great importance in their travels. For that matter, this comparative study signals the need for further analysis of tourists with the use of the same survey instrument.