Tourist attractions have members – why?

Active participating consumers are present as members at tourist attractions. This explorative study aims to deepen the understanding of the consumer’s perspective of membership by focusing on member roles, member motivations and member behaviours in a non profit context. A relationship marketing approach is applied originated in the mutual benefits of membership. Findings indicate that member roles and member motivations are reflected as different membership behaviours. Active committed members fill in the roles of supporters and advocates promoting the attraction as well as performing volunteer work as co-production in the interface between visitors, fellow members and paid staff. Active members are present as one vital frontline ingredient interacting and surrounding the services or experiences offered at the tourist attraction. It is of importance to academics and managers in the highly competitive tourism industry to understand not only what motivates people to become active members/volunteers but also what keeps them volunteering.