ABSTRACT
Holidaying can be dismissed lightly as a frivolous and hedonistic pursuit, something that people may enjoy in their lives like expensive designer clothing or jewellery. Consequently, the inability to engage in tourism activities is not necessary perceived as something that would affect people’s state of mind significantly, or could be seen as excluding them from society. However, it has been shown that holidays can play a central role in people’s well-being. They may significantly increase social and family capital for the participants and, especially among low-income groups, the benefits of tourism can be high (Minnaert ampentity Schapmans, 2009). Hence, enabling an occasional holiday away from home could be seen as an investment in the well-being of society (see Hughes, 1991; Quinn ampentity Stacey, 2010). Having a one-week annual holiday away from home on yearly is considered important to individuals’ well-being in some societies, and can be included in indices used to measure material deprivation. For example in the EU, material deprivation indicators are based on nine items including ‘one-week annual holiday away from home’ (Fusco et al., 2011; see also Halleröd et al., 2006; Nolan ampentity Whelan, 2010).
