Tourism and the Experience Economy in the Digital Era

This book brings together diverse theoretical perspectives and practical examples of the experience economy in developing and developed economies in tourism-related industries.

Xiang Ying Mei is an associate professor in marketing and the study program manager for the Master of Science in Business Administration at Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. She holds a PhD in tourism management from the University of Queensland, Australia. In addition to years of practical experience in the service industries, her research interests range from government policies, innovation, regional development, tourism management and development, experience economy, consumer behaviour and marketing, to digital learning tools and student engagement in higher education. Mei has previously published in several renowned international journals.

Introduction: Encapsulating Experiences in the Experience Economy Part I: Understanding 'new' Tourist Behaviour 1. Global Consumer Culture as a Socio-cultural Antecedent behind Experience Economy and its Repercussion on Modern Tourism System 2.Online Reviews, a Restaurant's Foe or Pal? The Tug Restaurant, Swakopmund 3. The Motivation of Singapore Millennials in Spa Tourism and the Influence of Social Media 4. Motives of Tourists for Participating in the Sharing Economy from the Perspective of the Experience Economy: A case study of Polish Uber Users 5. Self-Service Technologies (SSTs) and their Implications on Tourist Experiences Part II: Marketing Experiences in the Contemporary Experience Economy 6. Value co-creation through Technology-mediated Experiences: A Research Agenda 7. Exploration of Transmedia Storytelling as a Marketing Strategy in the Tourism Industry: A Case Study of Ladder of Love, Chongqing 8. Traveller's Creation and Dissemination of User Generated Content: A Review and Theoretical Implications 9. Designing for Highly Involving Experiences: Immersion in Virtual and 'Real-world' Experiencescapes Part III: Technological Tools and social media in Conceptualising Experience Economy 10. Hospitality Micro Enterprises (MEs) during COVID-19: Changing Experiences through Service Innovation and Digital Tools 11. The Influence of Social Media in Overcrowded Destinations and the Re-emergence of Slow Travel for Gen Z's - Expectations versus Reality 12. Smart Tourism in Developing Smart Destinations: Cases from Borneo Island 13. The Role of Instagram for More Sustainable Tourism Experiences 14. Towards a Sustainable Tourism Experience: Analysing the Zero-emission Tourist Routes in Natural Parks 15. Conclusion: Future Prospects and the Way Forward