“Environment Shock”: A Study of Tourists' Reactions to Two Tropical Islands

The usefulness of links between tourism research and work in social psychology was considered. A diary‐based study of tourists visiting tropical islands in North Queensland was discussed and changes in the day‐to‐day moods of tourists on the islands were reported. Some determinants of these mood changes were demonstrated using log linear analysis. Negative moods were more frequent on the second and third days of holiday, particularly during the evenings. It was argued that tourists experienced “environment shock” in visiting these resorts. Self‐report health data confirmed this suggestion. Furthermore, tourists appeared to increase the number of self‐initiated as compared to other‐initiated activities during their holiday. It was concluded that the shift in activity patterns and the “environment shock” health problems were possible explanations of the day‐to‐day mood patterning reported in the study.