Living with tourism: a fluid interplay of various actors within the urban tourism space

Abstract

This paper offers alternative viewpoint that moves away from the simplistic host-guest framework in tourism studies, arguing that it inadequately captures the complex interactions among actors at tourism destinations. The conventional framework often assumes inherent friction primarily between tourists and residents, which may not reflect the nuanced interplay amongst actors. The paper highlights that challenges such as overtourism and negative resident perceptions demand a holistic understanding of social dynamics, extending beyond binary categorizations. Stances towards tourism are more nuanced than simply pro or contra. Adopting the mobility paradigm by Sheller and Urry, the study unearths the complex relationships among actors in urban tourist destinations, using Lucerne, Switzerland, as a showcase. It advocates for an actor-centric approach, emphasizing that places are shaped and understood through diverse actors and practices. However, it also acknowledges that these interplays can exacerbate existing challenges in tourism destinations. The paper concludes by re-illustrating current theoretical frameworks and moving beyond traditional binaries. It argues that the concept of ‘overtourism’ is insufficient to explain present developments and issues at the destination. Instead, the notion of ‘with-tourism’ (or ‘not-possible-without-tourism’) provides a more comprehensive lens to understand the dynamics shaping contemporary tourism destinations.