E-mindfulness – the growing importance of facilitating tourists’ connections to the present moment

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce e-mindfulness as a tourism trend. Mindfulness meditation is becoming increasingly mainstream, which is reflected in a rapidly growing number of related technology applications. Such technology-assisted mindfulness is typically referred to as e-mindfulness. The e-mindfulness trend creates opportunities for the tourism industry but also implies changed consumer perspectives on tourist experiences. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on a general review of academic literature, news reports and online resources regarding the offerings of related technologies. Findings Implications of e-mindfulness for consumers, tourism service providers and designers of future tourism experiences are outlined. Originality/value This is the first paper to conceptualize e-mindfulness as a tourism trend.

Digital well-being in the tourism domain: mapping new roles and responsibilities

“…As part of the technological response to negative technology impacts, some other products and tech-focused initiatives have emerged, such as social companion robots, more responsible and humane technology, coupled with efforts to promote calm or biophilic designs, technology-assisted mindfulness, downgrading smartphones to so-called dumb phones, etc. (Stankov et al 2020a , b ; Stankov and Gretzel 2020 ) (Fig. 1 ).…”

“…sleeping pods at airports), technology-enabled mindfulness programs (e.g., headphones with an electroencephalogram or brain-sensing headbands for mediation monitoring). It also encompasses efforts to integrate technologies into touristic offerings in a way that supports mindful experiences (Stankov et al 2020a , b ) and leads to stewardship for the destination (Kang and Gretzel 2012 ).…”

Tourism 4.0 technologies and tourist experiences: a human-centered design perspective

“…Similarly, a long-lasting transformation of tourists, as an ultimate target, is the primary purpose of the use of various meditation applications and devices that are becoming more popular for delivering technology-mediated mindful tourist experiences (Stankov et al 2020a ). Moreover, this kind of transcendental effect could be considered as the next evolutionary step in technology use and design (Alli 2019 ; Stankov et al 2020b ).…”

ICTs and well-being: challenges and opportunities for tourism

“…There are also growing numbers of applications that try to help tourists be either more physically active, mentally engaged or more relaxed to harness the health benefits of vacations (Kang and Gretzel 2012 ; Stankov et al 2020a , b ). On the other hand, ICT use can also significantly disrupt tourism experiences and challenge well-being goals for the tourists and those around them (Stankov and Gretzel 2020 ).…”

“…On the other hand, it seeks to recognize innovative ICTs and ongoing industry solutions to cope with well-being problems, or leverage IT uptake to create healthier and more beneficial experiences. These issues have become even more prominent in the current Covid-19 pandemic that has critically accelerated technology adoption while also challenging consumers’ and the tourism industry’s relations wit ICTs (Gretzel et al 2020 ; Stankov et al 2020a , b ).…”