Tourism, Leisure and Authenticity

Erik Cohen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

Abstract: This article advocates the introduction of the discourse of ‘authenticity’ into the study of (non-travel) everyday leisure. It poses the question of whether everyday leisure offers opportunities for experiences of subjective, particularly existential, authenticity, resembling those found in tourism. Its wider aim is to open a window towards the unification of the study of experience in tourism and leisure. The two fields of enquiry departed historically from very different disciplinary and theoretical perspectives and formulated diverse research programmes and problems. They treated ‘experience’ in diverse terms, thus precluding a comparative study of experience in their respective fields. It is suggested that the introduction of the discourse of ‘authenticity’ into leisure studies, and an accompanying formulation of a joint theoretical typology of experiences, will facilitate such a comparison and constitute a step towards the desired unification.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)67-73
Number of pages7
JournalTourism Recreation Research
Volume35
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2010 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Keywords

  • authenticity
  • existential experiences
  • leisure studies
  • tourism studies

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