Travel and Understanding: Notes on the Social Structure of Touring

It is pointed out that up to now, sociol'ts have given little attention to the soc aspects of touring. An effort is made to outline some of the S-cul dimensions of touring's impact on the understanding that diff groups have of each other. From the soc-psychol'al standpoint touring is seen to consist of a series of encounters in which one or more visitors, or outsiders, interact with one or more hosts or insiders in a network of supplementary goals & sets of expectations. The soc qualities characteristic of touring are enumerated: (1) The recognition by both participants of the transitory & mainly nonrepetitive character of their relationship. (2) Touring tends to highlight for both parties the importance of an orientation to immediate gratification. (3) Touring tends to be asymmetrical or unbalanced in character. (4) There is a pervasive sense of new experience, & a resulting freshness & excitement. 3 main types of touring encounters from the standpoint of their cultural composition are distinguished: those where the cultural backgrounds of hosts & visitors are the same or closely similar; those where such backgrounds are diff but the diff's are supplementary or integrative in nature; & those where they are diff & inconsistent. In conclusion, some positive & negative elements of touring are noted. E. Weiman.