Family outing can be a means to maintain and improve the bonding among family members. Through outing, members can get out of daily routines and make it a moment to interact closer.
Research conducted on 300 families as respondents found out that there are two motives for family outing, escape and social pursuance.
“As high as 46 percent of respondents said escape is one motive for family to have outing. As many as 36% said social pursuance is their motive for outing,” said lecturer in Tourism Academy of Trisakti in Jakarta, Rahmat Ingkadijaya, in his open doctoral examination at UGM Graduate School on Tuesday (17/5).
The types of outing selected by the 300 families living in Bogor, West Java, consist of nature, culture, and special outing. Management and development of tourism destination for nature tourism, cultural tourism and special tourism need to be accommodated in line with the requirement of families. “These relate with accessibility and provision of supporting facilities,” he said.
He said generally families take tourism activities. Most often activities to be done are on culinary, shopping, and nature. Selection of choices is generally done democratically between parents and children, but most choose a place in close proximity. Motives of tourism, however, do not determine specifically the tourism activities chosen by families as each activity has different functions.
Rahmat concluded that family outing is a means to maintain and strengthen the bond between family members. “Satisfying outing proved to be able to maintain and improve the bonding between family members. More members getting satisfaction after tourism activities means more members get benefits,” he said.