MTP theory is valuable in response to recognizing that tourists have limited ability and
willingness to explain their own behavior. MTP theoretical tenants include a combination of
the following points. First, most thinking occurs unconsciously. Second, direct questioning of
informants to learn the reasons and perceived causes (see Malle, 1999, 2004) of their own
behavior is unlikely to explicate unconscious thinking (see Zaltman, 2003). Third,
face-to-face methods that go beyond direct questioning are necessary for uncovering
unconscious thinking – such methods include applying McCracken’s (1988) long interview
method and Rapaille’s (2006) discovery sessions. Fourth, combinations of antecedent
conditions are necessary and sufficient for explaining and predicting behavior – the issue is
not the relative importance of independent variables but rather on identifying alternative
conjunctural causal paths leading to go and no-go outcomes (see Ragin, 1997). Fifth, the
seemingly opposing goals of capturing/reporting complexity and achieving generality are
achievable by collecting thick descriptions of several cases in each of several theoretically
interesting combinations of antecedent factors. Sixth, a researcher should seek to
empirically examine seemingly outlier factor-level combinations – such combinations
provide data for theoretically rich information. Seventh, QCA tools are useful for building and
generalizing MTP models relevant for specific topics including describing and explaining
destination choice behavior.