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Synthetic tourist experience

Author

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  • Miao, Li
  • Yang, Fiona X.
  • Zhang, Qiao
  • Wang, Kanye Ye

Abstract

Synthetic reality—characterized by the increasingly blurring boundaries between physical and virtual worlds—is reshaping tourist experiences. This forward-looking conceptual research re-examines the tourist experience from an ontological perspective, positioning synthetic reality as an integrated super-reality transcending the physical–virtual dichotomy. Using the six-dimensional consumer experience framework as an organizing structure, this research discusses key experiential qualities of the synthetic tourist experience: surreality, symbiosis, discrete emotions, extended cognition, syntheticity, and meta-interactivity. Critical theoretical considerations of each proposed experiential quality are also discussed. This study further outlines a future research agenda for a better understanding of the synthetic tourist experience.

Suggested Citation

  • Miao, Li & Yang, Fiona X. & Zhang, Qiao & Wang, Kanye Ye, 2025. "Synthetic tourist experience," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:anture:v:113:y:2025:i:c:s0160738325000830
    DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2025.103977
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    1. Samaniego-Chávez, Carla Estefanía & Shi, Fangfang & Khamidullin, Takhir, 2025. "What makes online tours authentic? A semiotic analysis," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).

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