Previous studies have explored the impact of social media as a marketing tool on tourists' decision-making and experience, but few studies have explored the impact of social media on rural residents' tourism participation. Taking Tunda in Tibet as an example, this study qualitatively explores how social media embedding affects rural residents' tourism participation. Results show that social media reshapes villagers' social identity, social structure, and social relationship of the tourism community. Specifically, (1) the virtual space constructed by social media is connected with the lived space of villagers, additionally, the social and power relations in lived space are reshaped by the embedding of virtual space. (2) The production of virtual space with social media as the medium expands the resistance channels of representations of space in the process of space production in reality for villagers. Internal place branding can play a greater role in the place branding due to the embedding of social media. (3) When social media influences villagers' participation in tourism development, it influences changes in the community, including changing the villagers' lifestyle, strengthening informal power, and reshaping the social relationship of residents. The findings can help rural tourism destination managers adapt to changes in rural society brought about by social media.
Abstract. Tourism toilet is an important symbolic in evaluating the regional tourism development. However, related researches about tourism toilet are not sufficient and lack of related concepts of the construction. Therefore, by using qualitative research method, our study reconstructed a conception framework named 'tourism toilet servicescape' grounded by servicescape theory based on Lhasa. Research findings show tourism toilet servicescape has three core themes named 'physical servicescape, social servicescape and cultural symbol servicescape. Each core theme has three secondary themes. Our study is significant on theory and practice of constructing tourism toilet.
Purpose This study aims to explore the tourist’s liminal experience on a ferry and form a conceptual framework of liminal experience in the mobile liminal setting from the perspective of island tourists. Design/methodology/approach To address the purpose of taking the ferry from Zhoushan Island to Sijiao Island in China as the part of research, a qualitative method research design was used, including participatory observation, in-depth interviews and online data from social media. Findings Ferry as a mobile liminal space on the sea provides tourists to experience liminality by perceiving unique time construction, the overlap of physical and figurative space, the sense of liminal community and perceived existential authenticity, embodied spatial practices and perceived liminal benefits and costs under the specific social and cultural contexts. Practical implications This study proposes that tourism planners should strengthen tourists’ liminal experience on the ferry through integrated shipscape planning, including ship space planning, theme design and product development, which can make the ferry to be a meaningful place brand. Originality/value This study not only confirms that taking tourism public transport such as a ferry is a rite of passage for tourists before entering the island destination but also points out that public transport is a tourist attraction with time, space and social meaning for tourists.
Purpose Taking Tibet as a case study, this paper aims to develop an in-depth understanding of the influence that off-season tourism promotion (OTP) has on seasonal destinations from a multi-stakeholder perspective. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research method was designed using participatory observation, in-depth interviews and focus group interviews in Tibet from March 2018 to February 2019. Findings The results revealed the different effects of OTP on destinations from a multi-stakeholder perspective. Residents report place change as a perceived threat from off-season tourists. Additionally, the irregular nature of seasonal employment can lead to service provider–related failures. While traditional seasonal tourists viewed OTP promotions as the destruction of place identity, promotion-motivated tourists presented a lesser degree of place loyalty. The prospect of off-season tourism has also led to concerns among scholars regarding deteriorating environmental sustainability. Practical implications This paper can help destination managers and policymakers re-assess the effects of seasonality and off-season tourism policies. Originality/value This paper discusses the phenomenon of seasonality from a multi-stakeholder perspective. The study explores residents’ perception of OTP-related place change, the causes of seasonal employment and how the market segments in off-season tourism, all of which complement existing research. Lastly, using a mixed data collection and analysis method, the study provides a feasible approach to analyze tourism phenomena.
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