Consument en economische crisis tussen 2008 en 2015: producten tussen luxe en noodzaak

This chapter addresses consumer expenditures during the persisting economic downturn between 2008 and 2015.The focus is in a longitudinal study on tourism demand within the context of expenditures on other consumer goods, taking in account the ’why’ of the development of this demand over time. The findings show that holidays, in particular the main summer holiday, can be positioned closer to being a necessary good than to being a luxury good, at least during an economic downturn. Many vacationers are prepared to sacrifice expenditures on a variety of products just so as to keep on going on holiday. The major explanation is the high essentiality of vacations for a better quality of life. The influence of income and personal economic situation on tourist demand at the micro-level during an economic downturn is relatively minor or non-existent.