The Secret Lives of Tourists: Delays, Disappointments and Daydreams1

Abstract

Tourist research on life in "The Experience Economy" has led to a focus oil the eventful cold dramatic, on ways of packaging and marketing "great experiences" that turn a heritage into all event, a city into desires, a museum into all adventure. There is a lot of talk about the production of great atmospheres and exciting events, but tourist life is of course full of non-events, indifferent or bad experiences. This paper looks at such situations. How do tourists experience waiting for a delayed flight, daydreaming on the beach or finding the promised great experiences disappointing or just boring? What happens when tourists are doing nothing or just experience "the same old thing"?