Touristic Processing of 'Travel Narrations'

Abstract

This project explores a range of issues associated with the touristic processing of ‘travel narrations’. It asks if travel writing is actually a factor in persuading potential tourists to travel. ‘Travel narrations’ are perceived as written accounts that adopt non-fictive modes of story-telling, similar to those in commercial publications. Because they use romantic descriptions and persuasive language, ‘travel narrations’ can persuade individuals to travel by creating appealing images for a destination. In some circumstances, they may induce a vicarious experience, transporting the reader by means of a narrative to a place using extraordinary accounts and imagery. Possibly, readers may seek to recreate this experience by visiting the physical destination, but it is also arguable that the writing and empathetic transportation might replace the need for physical travel as the reader has already mentally visited the destination. The analysis of travel narrations covers (1) tourist'perceptions, (2) destination image, (3) media psychology, and (4) the affects upon different tourist types. These issues are explored through a number of themes, including the mediation of textual representations, the construction of a destination’s image, and the ability of text to transport the reader to an imaginary place. The research to date confirms the suggestion that ‘travel narrations’ possess some persuasive power, embodied in the notion of 'narrative transportation’, which enhances the reader’s desire to travel. Hence, a ‘travel narration’ does not replace the need to travel to the physical destination, but may well serve as the persuasive source for a potential tourist to do so.