(Facilitative and Debilitative Motivational Factors of Flashpackers (Case study: Flashpacking in the Cities of Iran

Given the fact identifying motivational factors in tourism can play a significant role in determining the tourists’ consumption approach, the present study aims to investigate the motivational and inhibitory factors among flash-packers in the cities of Iran. To this end, semi-structured interviews were conducted. The findings revealed push and pull factors as the two main contributory motivational themes that can promote the flash-packing style of traveling. Push factors have both the individual and social dimensions. The former is comprised of four components of empiricism, self-actualization, escape from everyday life, and the promotion of world knowledge, while the latter is composed of experiencing the three subthemes of freedom, independence, and comfort. The pull factors are the destination generated forces with the two components of tourist attractions and the acquisition of science or skills in a target place. Besides, the findings showed that the inhibitory factors are classified into three main themes of infrastructure along with security and communication factors. Infrastructure includes the two main categories of health care and welfare services. The former includes the two components of environmental pollution and the lack of health services while the latter includes the quality of transportation and accommodation services. Security factors include social security, which is divided into the two components of physical and mental security. Finally, the communication dimension as the last emerged theme refers to technology and communication, which is classified into the two components of network coverage and filtering.