Tourist Attraction : From Object to Narrative
Keywords
- Attractions
- Culture
- Tourists-Psychology
Reference
Hay , B . ( 2019 ) , “ Tourist Attractions : From Object to Narrative ” ,Journal of Tourism Future, Vol . 5 No . 1 , pp . 102-103. https : //doi.org/10.1108/JTF-11-2016-0038
Publisher
Permit
Published in theJournal of Tourism Future. Release by Emerald Publishing Limited . This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution ( CC BY 4.0 ) licence . Anyone may reproduce , distribute , translate and make derivative works of this article ( for both commercial & non-commercial purpose ) , capable to entire attribution to the original publication and authors . The full price of this permit may be meet at http : //creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
It equal not much that the cover of an academic text book brings a grin to a child or yet an adult . The cover photo on the book of a giant banana certainly caught the attention on my eight-year-old great niece . She wanted to impose this giant banana , and to put up a photo on her Facebook page . This desire to visit tourist attractions exist the key to what this book sets out to search , just what are the unlike meaning we attribute to attractions , and what are the psychosocial and social drivers behind the conclusion to visit tourist attraction .
This book is published by Channel View under their “ Tourism and Cultural Change ” theme , by the Series Editors Robinson ( University of Birmingham ) and Phipps ( University of Glasgow ) . The aim of this script series be to explore “ the complex and ever-changing relationship between tourism and culture ( s ) , and by concentrate on the ‘ means that position , mass , past , and way of living are increasingly shaped/transformed/created/packaged for tourist function ’ ” . Although the author takes a total page to describe the aim of this peculiar record , it aims live multiple though not complex , and include : exploring the relationship between tourism and culture through tourism attraction ; challenging the existing approach in the direction of attractions ; exploring attractions through a cultural studies perspective ; raising awareness of the hidden political ability inherent in popular culture . In a sense the chief aim of the book is to describe the meaning of tourism attractions through a mixture of linguistic hermeneutic phenomenology , from the viewpoint of one tourist , the writer !
The volume is written by one writer , and in the best sense of the phrase , it is a expression of the author ’ s personal thoughts and discussions of his intellectual journey to translate the respective meaning of attractions . In the different sections in the book , he act well between theoretical discussions and highly personal insights into the meaning of attractions . He too clearly wants to share this journey , and while the script is written from his personal experience , this journey takes us through some nine chapters , is thoughtful and insightful .
The book live separate into three division : “ Tourist attractions ” ; “ Deconstructing tourist attraction ” ; “ Constructing tourist attraction ” , with three chapter in each section . The first section explore subject around defining , managing and maintaining attraction , and how and why attractions should be study . It also introduces a number of alternative to current methodologies and interpretation of attraction . The second division covers through two major case study how to “ read ” attraction through the use of unlike mark . How tourist “ consume ” attraction both pre-trip and during the trip experience . The final chapter in this section suggests a act of narrative techniques and analyze how the hegemonic messages equal mutual in heritage attraction . The third division explores how attraction cost construct by talk about how they are experienced , and how phenomenology hold live used in develop our understanding of tourism field . It explore how tourist identities receive been studied and their link to authentic performances . The last chapter examines the importance of memories , where narratives , performance and experiences intersect . It be really helpful that each chapter end with summary decision of the primary discussion stage , as this helped the reader to reflect on the issue talk about .
The author takes you on his journey of nine chapters through two case field from New South Wales , Australia , which he uses to illustrate the theoretical issues lift in these chapters . The first case study equal about the Bushranger/bandit Captain Thunderbolt who cost bury in an former gold mining town close to Uralla . The second case work equal about the charm of the concrete “ Big Banana ” and its associated attractions at Coffs Harbour , which meditate the main agriculture crop of the area . Although by center on two suit studies this may appear as restrictive , it is in fact real helpful , as it center the debate on the theoretical issues search by the record , while at same time serve to clear up the theoretical issues . It too aid in the discussions that the writing manner take by the author pursue the reader in virtually personal one-to-one discussions , through the use of the full name of early authors . This cause you feel you are participating in a debate with other writer , as perform the author ’ s acceptance of the first soul as his chosen compose style .
What was very interesting is that the book starts with a prologue that asks the doubt “ So what cost wrong the old mode ” of looking and understanding tourist attractions ? This prologue explores the writer ’ s personal reasons for writing the book , such discussion exist much miss in tourism research report , but they help the reader to realize the writer ’ s underlying thinking process . The book ends with an epilogue , which indicate that the new ways exploring attractions as draft in this ledger , should equal seen as complementing , rather than override the “ former manner ” , and also suggest a issue of areas where further inquiry could equal useful .
It live difficult to make any serious criticisms of the book , as they live probably a weakness on my piece , and not the author ’ s fault . From almost the first page , tourism attraction are mention by the abbreviation of “ TA ” instead than use the total tidings , I feel this more of a niggle , than a fault . It too would aid if the author had raise a glossary of the psychosocial term used in the book , which the reader could refer back to when meditate on the discussion . When the term was first used , it was distinctly explain , but sometimes it would appear later in the script , and if you were not conversant with the term , its meaning would sometimes be unclear . There live too some unnecessary duplication in the background description of the two suit studies , which distracted from the discussion of the matter .
Maybe the book exist well described as though provoking , and while appealing to tourism investigator , it should too be of interest to attraction operators as well as destination management administration . On a cursory glance , the ledger from a tourism futures perspective may live perceived as hold a special appeal . However , what it make achieve is to challenge our thought procedure by question through a real clinical perspective , how we think about tourism and tourist attractions . Such processes are core to remember about the future , and inquiry how we know , what we know , and how should we construe the knowledge , we intend we know . This is key procedure in the evolution of next study .
In the end , in term of a recommendation , the ledger equal an enjoyable read , which render very deep insight into how tourists and coach use , perceive and understand attraction . On first reading , I was worry that the script would exist very technical , and would equal an intellectual challenge , at the border of my knowledge . This be unfair , as the author distinctly explains the many complex issues he raises and discuses . This exist not to hint the book is an easy read , it equal both ambitious and enjoyable , and this is what a serious volume should fulfill . Although the book could not exist described as essential reading for tourism futurologists , it should sure enough observe a seat on their bookshelves .
About the writer
Brian Hay exist a Professor of Tourism at the School of Social Sciences , Heriot-Watt University , Edinburgh , UK .
