Untitled

down places. Their lower prices tends to attract the
more price-conscious but more flexible leisure
tourists, especially within Europe. There are also a
few specialised companies which provide very
luxurious vehicles for the up-scale leisure or
business markets.
Much of the car rental business, particularly in
the United States, is generated at airports. Railway
stations are also important outlet locations outside
North America. Express pick-up and return
services are very often provided for the business
tourist. Technological innovations, such as selfservice
machines and computerised mileage
counts, have speeded up the transaction processes.
Fly-drive packages, which offer an all-inclusive
price for the cost of the air travel trip to the
destination, combined with the cost of car and
accommodation, have also increased the use of
rental services for leisure purposes �see package
tour).
The large car rental companies all have links
with major airlines and hotel chains and can be
accessed through their computer reservations
systems. As with other parts of the tourism industry,
reward schemes are offered for frequent car users
which give them benefits such as price reductions,
free upgrades and other special offers on rental and
other tourism products plus priority booking �see
frequent flyer programme). Companies with
large numbers of employees using car rental
services regularly on business are often able to
negotiate favourable corporate rates. Other yield
management techniques, originally pioneered in
the airline sector, which vary rates charged
according to patterns and type of demand, have
also been adopted by the car rental business.
Further reading
Loverseed, H. �1996) `Car rental in the USA', Travel
and Tourism Analyst 4.
Smith, P.D. �1991) The European Car Hire Industry,
London: Economist Intelligence Unit.
UK Euromonitor �1992) Car Rental:The International
Market, London: Euromonitor Publications Ltd.
ANNE GRAHAM, UK
caravan park
A caravan park is a facility where tourists driving
recreational vehicles can stop. It commonly
provides such basic services as electric power,
shower, laundry and grocery. Some also offer
recreational amenities, including swimming pools
and tennis courts. Public acceptance of this form of
tourism in the 1960s led to its growth. After the
1970s energy crises, it also became popular to rent
recreational vehicles at caravan parks, in a manner
similar to renting a hotel room.
career
career 69
CHARLES S. JOHNSTON, NEW ZEALAND
A career is comprised of a sequence of work-related
activities and strategies that an individual experiences,
perceives and acts on during a lifetime. A
career may be seen as being individually perceived
and experienced and as being associated with
work, however defined. Moreover, it is likely to be
influenced by and to exercise influence on all other
life activities, including the family and social
spheres. It also has a longitudinal perspective in
that it cannot be observed at a single point in time.
It is a process that covers the lifetime of the
individual. There are a number of commonly held
views that are not necessarily components of an
individual's concept of a career. It does not always
imply upward mobility; there are linear careers,
but also other types such as contractor, pilot or
motel owner that do not necessarily lead to
progression up a hierarchy.
Careers are not associated with any particular
occupation but refer to all work-related activities
that extend over a relatively long period. They
need not necessarily be experiences associated with
one organisation. While some people may spend
their entire working life in one hotel management
company, many others are highly mobile and
pursue their careers in a variety of different
organisations. Furthermore, it should be noted
that career success cannot be adequately measured
by such attributes as rank, salary and speed of
promotion. Although these factors may affect an
individual's self-perception of career success, there