Vacation vengeance: an interpretive phenomenological analysis of revenge travel in India

Abstract

PurposeAfter each of the COVID-19-induced lockdowns, an unprecedented surge in leisure travel was observed, resulting in tourists flocking to places of tourist interest. This phenomenon was termed revenge travel in popular literature. The purpose of this study is to explore the phenomenon of revenge travel in detail through an academic lens. It examines the psychological and emotional motivations for revenge travel while studying the differences in travel behaviour pre- and post-pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe study applies an interpretive phenomenological approach to explore post-pandemic travel behaviour. Data were collected via personal in-depth semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis of the transcripts was conducted to arrive at discussion themes.FindingsDrawing on the established theories, the findings of the study indicate that lockdown fatigue coupled with mortality salience induced individuals towards leisure travel. This in turn led to mood alleviation and compensation for the deprivation undergone.Practical implicationsThe study reveals important insights into post-pandemic preferences of travel destinations (off-beat locations near urban clusters), accommodation options (more travellers choosing home stays and stand-alone properties) and vacation itineraries (a gradual shift towards slow tourism with more focus on immersive experiences). Further, there are indications that hotels may develop “workcations” and “staycations” as a new line of offering.Originality/valueThe study adds to the small body of knowledge on revenge travel. It adopts a phenomenological approach, thereby capturing the “lived experiences” of the participants and providing an in-depth look into the psychological and emotional motivations of revenge travel that have not been explored previously. The study provides insights into the travellers' psychology post a period of withdrawal and restraint.

Knowledge management during emergency remote teaching: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the transition experiences of faculty members

“…Prior scholars have also used a similar approach for reporting their studies (e.g. see Romaniuk et al , 2022; Singh and Srivastava, 2023). Booth et al (2014) have suggested that COREQ favors a more realistic and pragmatic paradigm for reporting qualitative findings.…”

Revenge tourism in Banyumas Regency: Examining the interrelationship among social media, overtourism, and post-COVID-19 impacts

“…Following the relaxation of restrictions, a noteworthy phenomenon known as "Revenge Tourism" has surfaced [7] . This term refers to the behavior of individuals who, after enduring prolonged periods of confinement, engage in travel activities with a heightened sense of enthusiasm [8,9] . The increase in travel, particularly in areas such as Banyumas Regency, has been intensified by the deliberate utilization of social media platforms, which have a significant impact on shaping perspectives and impacting travel choices [10][11][12] .…”

A Phenomenological Exploration of How People with Limited Mobilities Experience Adventure Tourism in Virtual Reality

“…Due to this, there are a small number of researchers who feel IPA is suited for tourism research, e.g. Farkic, 2020;Rickly, 2022;Sedgley et al, 2017;Singh & Srivastava, 2023;Thomas & Nieuwerburgh, 2022. To fulfil my thesis's, aim of gaining an experiential understanding of disabled people using VR to access adventure tourism, my research takes a phenomenological standpoint. To gain the level of insight needed, I use IPA as a theoretical framework and methodology to explore the lived experiences of twelve disabled people based in South Wales, UK.…”

“…Some researchers suggest that they are using phenomenology without acknowledging the theoretical tenets, or which phenomenology type is being applied methodically (e.g., Cohen, 1979;Marschall, 2015;Masberg & Silverman, 1996). There is confusion between types of phenomenology and the phenomenological tenets, such as bracketing, a tenet aligned with descriptive phenomenology being used for interpretative phenomenology (e.g., Laing & Frost, 2017;Singh & Srivastava, 2023). Specifically, Hayllar & Griffin (2005) and Berdychevsky & Gibson (2015) state they are using descriptive phenomenology, whilst applying interpretative phenomenological tenets and methods.…”

“…There are a small number of researchers who feel that IPA is particularly suited for tourism research (Sedgley et al, 2017;Singh & Srivastava, 2023). This is due to IPA's dedication commitment to engaging with the experiential at a deeper level than descriptive phenomenology (Smith, 1996).…”