Escape? But where? About ‘escape tourism’

Abstract

Escape tourism seems to be difficult to define. It is related to many different kinds of tourism, including the so-called Robinson tourism. Given that escape tourists’ motives, ways of travelling and activities vary widely, the article deals with general conditions which may trigger the decision to undertake escape tourism. It also examines geographical spaces that are potential destinations for escapees thanks to their remote location or specific features. The article applies theoretical considerations to the consideration of Poland’s tourist space as a source of possible ‘escape destinations’, finding that geographical spaces traditionally considered suitable for escape tourism – borderlands, peripheries or geographical extremes – have decreased in importance as the phenomenon migrates towards less obvious places and forms of psychological refuge.

Socio-cultural drivers of Saudi tourists’ outbound destination decisions

“…In contrast, studies of tourism more widely, arguably conceive it as liminal or liminoid phenomenon, where tourism practices and experiences are conceived as contrasting everyday norms and practices (cf. Bristow and Jenkins, 2020; Chylińska, 2022). These may be called ‘cultural rejectionist’ positions.…”

“…We argue that extensionist perspectives, exemplified in research on halal tourism, are built on the principle that the social norms and value systems that tourists are immersed in at home are transferred comprehensively to their practices when they travel abroad, and thus continue to shape their destination choices and behaviours abroad (Al-Ansi and Han, 2019; Lee et al, 2015; Moshin et al, 2020; Oktadiana et al, 2016). We contrast this with ‘rejectionist’ conceptions that view international mobility in terms of its liminal qualities and the potential for travellers to cast-off norms and values whilst in foreign destinations (Bristow and Jenkins, 2020; Chylińska, 2022). Our data enable us to identify an alternative perspective, which recognises the cumulative, intersecting impacts of socio-cultural imperatives, where norms and values emerge in some domains of tourist behaviour but in negotiated and discontinuous ways.…”

“…A review of the push-and-pull factors in tourism literature suggested that the factors differ from one tourist to another and from one destination to another (Pesonen et al, 2011). Push factors may include seeking knowledge and education, prestige enhancement, novelty, relaxation, and development of family relations; but the need to escape social and cultural imperatives of everyday life, mundanity and alienation can also play an important role (Chylińska, 2022; Cova et al, 2018; Sharpley, 2018). Pull factors can include place-specific attributes such as attractions, cultural aspects, nature and landscapes but may also extend to functional issues such as service quality (Mehmetoglu, 2011; Sharpley, 2018).…”

How Do Weather Conditions and Environmental Characteristics Influence Aesthetic Preferences of Freshwater Environments?

“…Over the past two decades, key factors that may have altered environmental preferences are the onset of the Anthropocene and consequently the effects of climate change (Auer, 2019;McCumber and Davis, 2022). With higher population densities and greater awareness of human impact on natural environments, there is growing interest in visiting environments which are perceived as 'isolated' or 'remote' (Chylińska, 2022;McCumber and Davis, 2022). The results from the current study further highlight the significant value attributed to remote blue space environments, with the Scenic-or-Not data-analysis and the nationally representative online survey illustrating this broad trend.…”

Can tourists become disciples? The formation and mechanism of place conversion in traditional Chinese villages

“…The pressures of life and work in modern society burden people, making rural tourism an important way for individuals to escape from the chaos of everyday life and find inner peace. The significance of nostalgia evoked by villages lies in the transformation of history into individual and collective myths, and the reliving of lost childhood days ( Boym, 2007 ; Chen et al, 2019 ; Chylińska, 2022 ). Finally, villages form the basis of human survival, and tourist behavior manifests in loyalty and emotional solidarity when tourists escape from the city and return for a sojourn in the countryside ( Oppermann, 2000 ; Wang and Chiou, 2019 ; Cheng et al, 2020 ).…”