Postmodern Society and Tourism

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to indicate that in today's circumstances of time and space compression, diversification of the tourism product, and diversity and multiplicity of tourist experiences, it is necessary to move away from the traditional typologically rigid and narrow theoretical framework towards more flexible conceptualisations. The paper brings a theoretical overview of theorists who have been meritorious for such a shift of opinion and associated with the emergence of the postmodern thought in the contemporary tourism theory.The abandonment of tourist typologies, the shift of attention towards the existential authenticity, and the admittance that tourism is a multisensory and physical experience bear witness to the recent theoretical shift in the study of the tourist experience which stresses the importance of the individual and his/her role in the tourist industry. New forms of tourism have been emerging, which have the potential to replace or at least change the already existing forms and fundamental tourism structures. A new type of tourism demand has significantly changed the nature of tourism offer. The alterations in the tourism offer and demand and the mere nature of the tourism product are usually associated with the concept of the post-tourist. By focusing on the effects of increasing mobilities of people and objects and new ways of sensing a touristic world, this work is a contribution to new directions in tourism analysis providing an account of various tourists' performances that help to constitute tourist destinations.

Tourism and the new generations: emerging trends and social implications in Italy

“…As widely theorized in social sciences, in postmodern society, tourism and leisure time are no longer a residual part of life (Urry, 2002; Lanfant et al , 2009; Wearing et al , 2010; Dujmović and Vitasović, 2015). Instead, they are high-value activities that contribute to the construction of the identity of social actors (Rojek, 1993; Stebbins, 2007; Nocifora, 2008; Urry and Larsen, 2012).…”

Digital detox tourism against post-modernity

“…Post-modernity in tourism is mainly characterized by the diversity of tourist experiences, motivations and touristic environments (Dujmović & Vitasović, 2015;Dinçer, et al 2018). Touristic consumers no longer want marketing with the "either this or that" approach, but rather "both this and that" approach; they also tend to focus on products and services that are unique to them and that can highlight their own differences.…”

Sport and Tourism Between Modernity and Postmodernity

“…Postmodern changes in tourism have been supported by communication technology development and globalisation as well as the processes of the "McDonaldization" and "Disneyization" of consumption, the latter meaning that tourism has become magic, playful, and theme-oriented [21]. As stated by Dujmović and Vitasović [22], "it is evident that the term 'postmodern tourism' was utilized with regard to a variety of developments, including the emergence of alternatives to the conventional mass tourism and the growing quest for simulated and theme-oriented tourism attractions". With regard to the latter, we can easily see links between the concept of "hyperreal" experience and simulacra [23] and artificial, theme-oriented sport stadia as places of consumption and media consumption of sport.…”