Holiday decision-making has long been considered as a joint
decision-making process between husband and wife (e.g. Davis and
Rigaux 1974; Belch et al. 1985; Belch and Willis 2002). Several
studies since recognise that also the child plays a part in family
decision-making (e.g. Howard and Madrigal, 1990; Gram and
Therkelsen 2003).
Roedder John (1999) finds that older children have more
influence than younger children. Younger children influence indirectly
by their mere presence and by their special needs, setting
certain limits and demands to what the family can do (e.g. as
described by Fodness 1992; Thornton et al. 1997). Older children
have the most influence on shopping relevant for children (e.g.
breakfast, toys and clothes), moderate influence on family activities
(e.g. holidays and restaurants) and the least influence on durable
consumer goods and expensive goods. Within the last product
categories, children have the most influence in the early stages of
the decision-making process (recognition of problem and information
search) and less influence when the final decisions are made.
Children influence purchases in the family, and parents are not deaf
to what their children say. Within tourism, pleasing the child is an
important motive for parents, mentioned by Ryan (1992) and Johns
and Gyimothy (2002). The satisfaction of children is highly rated by
parents and if the child does not wish to go to a site, the likeliness
of getting satisfied children is poor (Thornton et al. 1997).
Children influence indirectly and in a passive way by ind