Do parents enjoy travelling with their young children? An application of learned helplessness theory

Abstract

ABSTRACT Families with babies or young children have been largely ignored in the tourism literature. In particular, parents’ perceptions of travelling with their children, along with parents’ psychological states when planning and taking trips, are unknown. This study provides initial empirical evidence from 13 interviews using a Chinese sample. Findings indicate that Chinese parents generally consider travel opportunities a critical component of their children’s education and a way to broaden their children’s horizons. However, many obstacles can emerge when planning and taking trips with young children, which may produce a strong sense of helplessness regarding children’s health and safety. This study fills a significant gap in the tourism literature and offers directions for future research.