The emergence of authenticity: Phases of tourist experience

Rickly, Jillian; Canavan, Brendan

Abstract

Using the philosophy of critical realism, this article conceptualizes authenticity as a process of emergence to address the question: What makes authenticity possible? This envisions distinct authenticity phases, which are episodic, non-linear, and porous, accompanied by external triggers and internal processes that manifest before, during, and after travel, as perceived in relation to or activated by tourist experiences. Thus, pre-, proto-, in-situ, and post-authenticity phases are outlined and supported by current literature. In doing so, this article situates our current thinking about authenticity, which often foregrounds in-situ experience, within a broader understanding of its relationality to our social worlds beyond destinations. Finally, this approach offers new research avenues that emphasise the on-going emergent nature of authenticity over time.

Citation

Rickly, J., & Canavan, B. (2024). The emergence of authenticity: Phases of tourist experience. Annals of Tourism Research, 109, Article 103844. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2024.103844

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 16, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Sep 30, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024-11
• Deposit Date: Oct 3, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 4, 2024
• Journal: Annals of Tourism Research
• Print ISSN: 0160-7383
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-7722
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 109
• Article Number: 103844
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2024.103844
• Keywords: Authenticity, Authentication, Critical realism, Emergence, Tourist experience
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/40286429
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016073832400121X?via%3Dihub
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: The emergence of authenticity: Phases of tourist experience; Journal Title: Annals of Tourism Research; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2024.103844; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.