Locative Tourism Applications: A Sensory Ethnography of the Augmented City

This book explores the universe of locative tourism applications, using multi-sited sensory ethnography with diverse apps in 12 cities to interrogate how they layer maps of meaning over the urban environment and expose what their use can tell us about the production of cityscapes for touristic consumption. It has broad cross-disciplinary appeal and will be of interest to scholars from tourism studies, cultural geography, urban studies, new media studies, and sensory studies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 196 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Travel through time. Walk the streets as they were. See through floors. Hunt for ghosts (with drink in hand). Hear the walls speak. These are just a few of the ways that locative tourism applications seek to augment the urban experience. This book explores the universe of locative tourism applications. It uses multi-sited sensory ethnography with diverse apps in 12 cities around the world to interrogate how these applications layer (often branded) maps of meaning over the urban environment, and exposes what their use – at the embodied intersection of physical and digital space – can tell us about the production of cityscapes for touristic consumption.

Locative Tourism Applications takes a journey in three parts to evaluate how these “extensions of the senses” mediate users experience of urban locales. The first offers the reader some theoretical and methodological orientation, the second takes them on a whirlwind tour of locative apps, and the third settles in for an extended exploration of two destinations: Montreal and Christchurch. With broad cross-disciplinary appeal, this volume will be of interest to scholars from tourism studies, cultural geography, urban studies, new media studies, and sensory studies and will be particularly valuable for sensory ethnographers examining mobile and location-aware media.

The first part of the book provides an overview of locative tourism applications and their potential to enhance the urban experience. It discusses the rise of location-based services and the growing trend of mobile technology, which has enabled the development of these applications. The book also explores the different types of locative tourism applications, including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences, interactive maps, and location-based social media platforms.

The second part of the book takes the reader on a journey through 12 cities around the world, exploring the diverse range of locative tourism applications available. The cities chosen for this exploration include London, Berlin, New York, Tokyo, Paris, Barcelona, Sydney, Montreal, Christchurch, and San Francisco. Each city is presented with a detailed case study, highlighting the key features and benefits of the local locative tourism applications.

The third part of the book focuses on two specific destinations: Montreal and Christchurch. Montreal is presented as a vibrant and diverse city with a rich history and cultural heritage. The book explores the use of locative tourism applications in Montreal to enhance visitors' experience of the city, including the use of AR and VR experiences to showcase historical landmarks and cultural attractions. Christchurch, on the other hand, is presented as a city that has faced significant challenges following natural disasters, including earthquakes and tsunamis. The book explores the use of locative tourism applications in Christchurch to rebuild and revitalize the city, including the use of interactive maps and location-based storytelling to engage visitors and promote resilience.

In conclusion, Locative Tourism Applications offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary exploration of the universe of locative tourism applications. It provides a theoretical and methodological framework for understanding how these applications mediate users' experience of urban locales, and exposes what their use can tell us about the production of cityscapes for touristic consumption. The book is particularly valuable for scholars from tourism studies, cultural geography, urban studies, new media studies, and sensory studies, and will be of interest to sensory ethnographers examining mobile and location-aware media.

Weight: 540g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367694845