Previous findings on how to effectively manage work-to-tourism conflict are not applicable for some tourists combining work with tourism such as working holiday tourists (WHTs). Using a framework built on work/family border theory, this study explores how WHTs experience work-to-tourism conflict and manage the conflict to achieve desired travel experiences. Qualitative research was conducted with WHTs in Dali, China. Findings reveal that the WHTs investigated primarily identify with their tourism domain, characterized by a weak border. Such a tourism domain is easily invaded by the work domain, eliciting work-to-tourism conflict. Via establishing friendship with the border-keepers (i.e., employers and guests) of their work domain, WHTs effectively reduce work-to-tourism conflict, leading to desired working holiday experiences. This study provides an additional understanding of travel experiences in different situations of combining work with tourism.
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