An Insight into the Motivations of Thai Working and Holiday Makers (WHMs)

Abstract

This study investigates the motivations of Thai working and holiday makers (WHMs), who were granted a work and holiday visa to Australia. This study extends the Existence, Relatedness and Growth (ERG) theory by integrating the socio-psychological motivation theory of tourists over two phases of experience, namely, the prior to (anticipation) and during (on-site) travel phase. This article employs a netnographic study of Thai websites and blogs relating to WHMs as its research method, in order to determine the nature of the motivations. The results reveal a different emphasis on the nature of motivations between the prior to and during the visit phases. The existential motivation under ERG theory, particularly on the monetary aspect, plays a crucial role and is the predominant driver of Thai WHMs in both the prior to and during the visit phases. This study shows how Thai WHMs pose unique motivations that differ from those of WHMs discussed in the Western and Asian literature.