Negotiating authenticity: Cathar heritage tourism

Bobot, Lionel

doi:10.1080/1743873x.2012.660943

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 18 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…While in heritage studies it remains a concept of vital importance (cf. Bobot, 2012), several sociologists have posed that it serves as an essentialist or materialist concept (cf. Bruner, 1994;Handler, 1986), or as too simple a notion to explain tourism (Urry, 1991: 51).…”

Section: The Revolving Doors Of Authenticitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Here I am: Authenticity and self-branding on travel blogs

Nuenen

2015

Tourist Studies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article examines the discursive structure of several popular travel blogs to understand the relationship between authenticity and self-branding. Instances of present-day "canonical" blogs are examined, showing up high on Google searches, attracting significant audiences, and featuring on "best of" lists presented by other websites. Through a discourse analysis of the blog's About pages, it is shown that professional bloggers reconcile the search for a self-dependent and inward-turned existential authenticity with the performance of self-branding techniques. Bloggers construct an image of a resilient self in times of hardship, while acting as travel and life coaches and ensuring their readers that such a nomadic lifestyle is attainable for anyone who really wants it. Simultaneously, there is an unmistakable influence of socioeconomic resources that these travelers have at their disposal. The enmeshing of authenticity and self-branding results in a discourse in which it is possible to both sell and become oneself.

show abstract

Section: The Revolving Doors Of Authenticitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Here I am: Authenticity and self-branding on travel blogs

Nuenen

2015

Tourist Studies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Other studies addressed authenticity with regard to guided tours (Overend, 2012), museums, art, castles, zoos, and seasonal fairs (Bobot, 2012;Werdler, 2011;Maruyama et al, 2008), farming and residential tourism (Di Domenico and Miller, 2012;Mantecó n and Huete, 2008), and festivals and events (Carnegie and McCabe, 2008;Matheson, 2008;McCartney and Osti, 2007). Other studies investigated other tourists' experiences like ecotourism settings (Kontogeorgopoulos, 2004), ''CouchSurfing'' accommodation (Steylaerts and O'Dubhghaill, 2011), and medical tourism (Cook, 2010).…”

Section: Perspectives On Authenticitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Guests' perception of staged authenticity in a theme park: an example from Disney's Epcot's World Showcase

Milman

2013

Tourism Review

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose – The study aimed to investigate the role of staged authenticity on guests' overall experience when visiting a theme park. It also assessed their evaluative perception of the “real experience” versus the “staged experience.” In addition, the study explored the variables that may predict guest's perceived level of authenticity, realism and truth when experiencing “reproduced” landmarks at a theme park. Design/methodology/approach – The study's setting was the World Showcase at Disney's Epcot theme park that features well-known “staged” landmarks. The study adopted a theoretical framework initially developed by Naoi that measures guests' perceived authenticity at tourist attractions. Personal interviews were conducted with 336 local residents, domestic and international tourists in Central Florida using a structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS and included descriptive statistics, t-tests, and multiple regression analysis. Findings – Patrons' overall experience at Epcot's World Showcase was perceived to be “unique,” “authentic,” “fantasy,” “exotic,” “adventurous,” “secure,” “safe” and “sanitary.” Respondents also perceived the country pavilions to be “truthful,” the architecture to be “realistic” and the ethnic food to be “authentic.” Respondents' perceived level of authenticity, realism, and truthfulness was predicted by their travel experience, visiting experience to Epcot and other Central Florida's theme parks, demographic characteristics, and several variables that measured perceived authenticity. Research limitations/implications – The study was conducted in the world's third busiest theme park and therefore, guests' perception of “staged authenticity” may be different in other theme parks. The instrument used was adopted from studies that were not conducted in the theme park industry. The study provided a theoretical contribution on the measurement and prediction of guests' level of perceived authenticity when visiting a theme park. This theoretical framework can be extended to other hospitality operations that present “staged authenticity” settings like hotels, restaurants, festivals, events, retail outlets and more. The findings may also be useful for investors, designers, operators, and marketing executives when developing “staged authenticity” experiences for different market segments. Originality/value – With the continuing growth of the global theme park industry, coupled with its high capital investment in architecture and design, it is necessary to investigate the impact of “staged authenticity” attributes on the overall guest experience.

show abstract

“…Often seen as a "holy grail" for tourists (Heitmann, 2011) it appears to function in the "real world" as a description of the tourist experience (Bellhassen & Caton, 2006;Chhabra, 2010;Bobot, 2012;Mantecon & Huete, 2007;Chhabra, 2012;Mkono, 2012). At the same time it is contested as a term, even argued to have become too "unstable" for meaningful use (Reisinger & Steiner, 2006).…”

Section: Authentic Voicementioning

confidence: 99%