Dimensions of Friendship in Shared Travel Experiences

Abstract

Quality relationships are fundamental to human well-being. Friendships are voluntary relationships between autonomous individuals that can shed light on how bonding and intimacy are experienced in tourism environments. Adopting a qualitative, humanist approach, this article explores the topic of friendship in tourism. Through a thematic analysis of 12 in-depth interviews, we examine how friendships are experienced by Serbian young to middle-age adults in tourism settings. It was revealed five main dimensions underpin friendship relationships in a tourism context: intimacy of spaces, quality time, disclosure, navigation of challenges and relational realisations, and a sense of learning about oneself through shared experiences. Opportunities are suggested for researchers to extend these research findings.