Territorial functioning in a tourism setting

The notion of territoriality developed in the biological and social sciences would seem to apply to many tourism situations and settings. This paper examines human territoriality as one factor that can influence tourist experiences. Human territoriality theory is reviewed and its relevance to tourism settings is addressed. An empirical test of territorial functioning among tour groups at a tourism attraction supports the idea that some level of territoriality exists in certain tourism venues. The importance of territoriality as a theoretical foundation for tourism research and implications for management of visitor experiences and satisfaction are discussed.