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Tourist Cultures
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Tourist Cultures
Identity, Place and the Traveller

First Edition


October 2009 | 184 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
This is a timely and easily accessible book that addresses a number of issues that are of central concern to the development of tourism studies. It will also be of interest to those in cultural studies, social geography and social anthropology who are concerned with the relationship between the production and consumption of place.
Kevin Meethan, University of Plymouth

Sharp and engaging, Tourist Cultures presents valuable critical insights into tourism - arguing that within the imagined-real spaces of the traveller self it becomes possible to envisage tourist cultures and futures that will both empower and engage.

Here is a framework for understanding tourism which is subject-centred, dynamic, and capable of dealing with the complexity of contemporary tourist cultures. The book argues that tourists are not passive consumers of either destinations or their interpretations. Rather, they are actively occupied in a multi-sensory, embodied experience.

It delves into what tourists are looking for when they travel, be they on a package tour, or immersing themselves in the places, cultures and lifestyles of the exotic. Tourism is examined through a consideration of the spaces and selves of travel, exploring the cultures of meaning, mobilities and engagement that frame and define the tourist experience and traveller identities.

This book draws on the explanatory traditions of sociology, human geography and tourism studies to provide useful insights into the experiential and the lived dimensions of tourism and travel. Written in an accessible and engaging style, this is a welcome contribution to the growing literature on tourism and will be important reading for students in a range of social science and humanities courses.
 
1. Introducing The Cultures of Tourism
Understanding Tourism

 
From Flâneur to Choraster?

 
Tourism, Experience and Space

 
The Structure of Tourist Cultures

 
 
PART I: TOURIST SELVES
 
2. The Tourist Experience
Functions and Formulations

 
Typologies of Experience

 
Authenticities and Alternatives

 
 
3. Tourism and Identity
Time to Escape

 
Identity and the Traveller Self

 
Stories and Narratives

 
 
4. Encountering the Other
(Inter)Cultural Dominance

 
Hosts and Guests

 
Gender, Sex and Tourism

 
 
PART II: TOURIST SPACES
 
5. The Landscapes of Tourism
Tourist Cultures, Tourist Space

 
Touring Nature

 
Cityscapes of Travel

 
 
6. Global Tourism, Local Cultures
Valuing the Local

 
Backpackers and Global Wanderers

 
Hybrid Travel Cultures

 
 
7. Tourism, Space and Representation
Image, Memory and Imagination

 
Post-tourism and Beyond

 
'Thirdspace' of the Traveller Self

 
 
8. Conclusion

'This book makes an important contribution to understanding the experiences of tourists with places, spaces and peoples. Focusing on the multi-faceted, dynamic nature of host-guest interactions, it offers a trenchant critique of subject-object dualities and opens a dialogue for a sustainability-oriented approach to the travel and tourism encounter' - Tazim Jamal, Associate Professor, Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences, Texas A&M University


'This is a timely and easily accessible book that addresses a number of issues that are of central concern to the development of tourism studies. It will also be of interest to those in cultural studies, social geography and social anthropology who are concerned with the relationship between the production and consumption of place' - Kevin Meethan, University of Plymouth


The nature of host guest relations is of critical importance in tourism. This book provides a detail well written discussion on sustainability and tourism encounters. Highly recommended for students learning tourism planning or cultural tourism

Mr Emmet McLoughlin
Marketing Department , Leisure and Tourism, Sligo Institute of Technology
March 1, 2016

This book presents an interesting perspective for tourism studies, particularly to sociology of tourism, giving important insights on tourism as a social practice and as a dynamic activity. Here, tourism experience is engaged in tourist's own cultural systems. This way of looking to tourism contributes to understand the links between identity, place and the traveller.

Dr Hugo Pinto
Faculty of Economics, University of the Algarves
March 25, 2013

Raising valid issues and in-depth coverage for Master's level Tourist Behaviour classes.

Mr Volker Rundshagen
Int. Tourism Management, Cologne Business School
November 21, 2012

While very insightful, I found only two chapters useful for the course since the course is designed to provide an overview of global economic development, of which tourism is only one aspect.

Dr Ghada Masri
Global Studies, Marymount College
July 20, 2011

Will put on the supplemental list for nezt term, August- December 2011

Mrs Kjersti Walaas
Department of Tourism, Oslo School of Management (OMH)
February 15, 2011

great book, a must read for my students

the structure is a bit too fuzzy to make it the standard read, but I will definatelly recommend it to my students

Dr Stijn Reijnders
Faculty of History and Arts, Erasmus University Rotterdam
October 18, 2010

The offers a multidimensional insight into the various facets of tourist cultures today.
A thought provoking book that raises many issues for critical consideration.
Highly informative.

Dr Martine Middleton
Dept of Tourism & Leisure Management, Central Lancashire University
September 14, 2010

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter One

Chapter Two


For instructors

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