Developments and key issues in tourism mobilities

Abstract

This paper examines key developments in recent tourism mobilities research. It begins by outlining the recent conceptualisation of tourism mobilities, arguing that it is not just that tourism is a form of mobility like other forms of mobility but that different mobilities inform and are informed by tourism. It then examines work which has been developed in terms of materialities, autmobilities and new technologies. It concludes by discussing mobile methodologies and some thoughts on future research directions.

A multisensory phenomenology of interrail mobilities

“…Firstly, we interrelate sensuous tourism research (Crang, 2003;Crouch & Desforges, 2003;Edensor, 2007a) and non-representational approaches (Xiao, Jafari, Cloke, & Tribe, 2013) to further inform tourism mobilities research (Hannam, Butler, & Paris, 2014). More specifically, this contribution derives from the novel application of a multisensory phenomenology inspired by the experimental aspirations of research framed within non-representational theory (NRT), to an under-researched tourism and rail travel phenomenon: interrailing (Fernandes, Sarmento, & Matias, 2013;Johnson, 2010;Klingbeil, 1994).…”

Disconnected and Unplugged: Experiences of Technology Induced Anxieties and Tensions While Traveling

“…However, many of these 'updates' are full of 'trivial information', another aspect of the social tensions highlighted by Pearce and Gretzel (2012). They allow a proliferation and sharing of the most mundane aspects of daily life or the travel experience (Hannam, Butler, & Paris, 2014), which may actually motivate people to 'escape' and disconnect by choice while on vacation.…”

“…Traditional binaries of tourism research (home/away, work/leisure, presences/absence, etc.) have blurred as we become more 'involved' with our smart devices, social media (Hannam, Butler & Paris, 2014), and other recent advances in information and communication technologies. Recent research has also started to examine the impact of being 'constantly connected' on mental health, family, work, and other aspects of daily life (Harwood et al, 2014;Turel, Serenko, & Bontis, 2014).…”

“…The developments in mobile networks, broadband, and Wi-Fi internet access, mobile devices and apps, cloud computing, and online communities have altered the travel and tourism landscape (Hannam, Butler & Paris, 2014;Paris, 2011). Traditional binaries of tourism research (home/away, work/leisure, presences/absence, etc.)…”

Transport Infrastructure and Social Inclusion: A Case Study of Tourism in the Region of Gilgit-Baltistan

“…Hannam, Butler, and Paris (2014) argue that the tourism industry is intimately involved with the movement of a range of materials. This concept is widely recognised and can be noticed in the work of Gill, Caletrío, and Mason (2011);Hannam (2006); Hannam et al (2014) and Richardson (2013). Tourism mobilities encompass the movement of people, objects, intangible thoughts, use of technologies, and information across the whole world through public space (Hannam et al, 2014).…”