Deviance

Deviance and tourism, while seemingly distinct phenomena, have an important attribute in common: Both involve departures from the behavioral constraints that characterize the daily routine of mainstream society. This is clearly seen in the behaviors displayed in the twilight zone of social legitimacy in tourism settings. Deviant tourists, for example, are described in the literature in the context of a variety of activities while traveling, such as drug abuse, excessive drinking, unrestrained gambling, and the consumption of commercial sex. This behavior has also been described among hospitality employees who may be induced by the special characteristics of their working environments to engage in deviant acts, including drug abuse, inappropriate sexual behavior, and even criminal offenses such as petty theft (Wood 1992).