Motivation can be defined as the internal process that initiates, guides, and sustains goal-directed behavior. It is the force that drives individuals to take action, achieve objectives, and fulfill needs. Motivation can stem from both internal factors, such as personal desires and interests, and external factors, such as rewards, recognition, or environmental influences. In the context of tourism, motivation plays a crucial role in influencing why people choose to travel, what destinations they select, and the type of experiences they seek. Understanding motivation helps tourism managers, travel agencies, and destination marketers design services and experiences that cater to the psychological and physical needs of tourists. Several theories have been proposed to explain the dynamics of motivation, among which Abraham Maslow’s Need Hierarchy Theory stands out as one of the most influential and widely applied frameworks. Maslow, an American psychologist, suggested that human behavior is motivated by a hierarchy of needs, organized in a pyramid structure from the most basic physiological needs to the highest level of self-actualization. According to Maslow, individuals are motivated to satisfy lower-level needs before progressing to higher-level needs. This theory provides a structured way to understand motivation in general, and in the tourism context, it can explain why different travelers prioritize different types of experiences. Maslow’s hierarchy consists of five main levels. The first level is physiological needs, which are the basic requirements for human survival, including food, water, shelter, and rest. In the tourism sector, these needs translate into necessities such as comfortable accommodation, access to nutritious meals, safe drinking water, and basic sanitation. For example, a traveler choosing a destination will first ensure that these fundamental needs can be met, such as selecting hotels that provide clean rooms, proper bedding, and essential amenities. If these needs are not fulfilled, tourists may not engage in recreational or leisure activities, as their primary focus remains on survival and comfort. The second level is safety needs, which involve security, stability, and protection from harm. Once physiological needs are met, individuals seek safety in their environment. In tourism, safety needs can influence travel decisions in terms of political stability, crime rates, medical facilities, and emergency services available at the destination. Travelers often evaluate whether their journey will be secure, whether local laws are protective, and whether they have access to health services. For instance, parents traveling with children may prioritize destinations with robust safety measures, secure transportation, and reliable infrastructure,