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A Critical Review of Existential Authenticity in Tourism

  • Journal of Tourism Sciences
  • Abbr : JTS
  • 2014, 38(5), pp.79-99
  • Publisher : The Tourism Sciences Society Of Korea
  • Research Area : Social Science > Tourism

Kim, Young-Rae 1 Byungwoong Chung 2

1순천향대학교 SCH경제경영연구소 연구원
2순천향대학교

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ABSTRACT

This paper critically reviews the concept of 'existential authenticity' in tourism. The origin and condition of 'existential authenticity' in philosophy and sociology has been explored to have better understanding of how it has been developed before applying it to tourism study. We find that discussion on 'existential authenticity' in tourism is lacking a philosophical framework, which creates mystification and idealization of tourism experiences, excessively stressing a diversional effect of the tourism experience. This paper concludes that if existential authenticity in tourism becomes a valuable theory of discourse, it is necessary for a more sophisticated and elaborated theoretical framework to be constructed on how, in particular, the 'inauthentic-self' transforms into the 'authentic-self'. Further investigation is needed into what is the in-depth structure of the 'internal human self', and how this condition engages within the realm of 'placeness'.

Citation status

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