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Empathy and tourism: Limits and possibilities

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  • Tucker, Hazel

Abstract

Promoted as an emotional pre-requisite for cross-cultural understanding, the notion of empathy connects with tourism in a variety of ways. This article explores this connection by considering the current and potential role of empathy in tourism encounters and tourism studies. The discussion develops a critical understanding of the positioning of empathy in tourism, highlighting the importance of examining empathy’s limitations and risks. It is argued that important differences lay between an unquestioned or non-reflective empathy and a more ‘unsettled’ empathy, which is reflective and renders possible a productive sense of shame. The article concludes by considering the possibilities of and for empathy within tourism and tourism studies, and by suggesting questions to take the links between tourism and empathy forward.

Suggested Citation

  • Tucker, Hazel, 2016. "Empathy and tourism: Limits and possibilities," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 31-43.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:anture:v:57:y:2016:i:c:p:31-43
    DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2015.12.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gnoth, Juergen & Wang, Ning, 2015. "Authentic knowledge and empathy in tourism," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 170-172.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bargeman, Bertine & Richards, Greg, 2020. "A new approach to understanding tourism practices," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    2. Bình Nghiêm-Phú & Hồng Long Phạm, 2022. "Local Residents’ Attitudes Toward Reopening Inbound Tourism Amid COVID-19: A Study in Vietnam," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    3. Ying Zhang & Jiehang Song & Angelo Sciacca & Jin Chan & Xiaoguang Qi, 2022. "Novel Sentiment Lexica Derived from User Generating Content by Chinese Tourists in Pacific Islands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-23, November.
    4. Elizabeth Carnegie & Jerzy Kociatkiewicz, 2019. "Occupying whateverland : journeys to museums in the Baltic," Post-Print hal-02395507, HAL.
    5. Hughes, Emma & Scheyvens, Regina, 2021. "Tourism partnerships: Harnessing tourist compassion to ‘do good’ through community development in Fiji," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    6. Elizabeth Carnegie & Jerzy Kociatkiewicz, 2022. "Dances with despots: tourists and the afterlife of statues," Post-Print hal-03196901, HAL.
    7. Gillen, Jamie & Mostafanezhad, Mary, 2019. "Geopolitical encounters of tourism: A conceptual approach," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 70-78.
    8. Bryce, Derek & Murdy, Samantha & Alexander, Matthew, 2017. "Diaspora, authenticity and the imagined past," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 49-60.
    9. Tassiello, Vito & Viglia, Giampaolo & Mattila, Anna S., 2018. "How handwriting reduces negative online ratings," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 171-179.
    10. Pera, Rebecca & Viglia, Giampaolo & Grazzini, Laura & Dalli, Daniele, 2019. "When empathy prevents negative reviewing behavior," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 265-278.
    11. Light, Duncan, 2017. "Progress in dark tourism and thanatourism research: An uneasy relationship with heritage tourism," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 275-301.
    12. Adongo, Charles A. & Taale, Francis & Adam, Issahaku, 2018. "Tourists' values and empathic attitude toward sustainable development in tourism," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 251-263.
    13. Qiao, Guanghui & Song, Hanqi & Prideaux, Bruce & Huang, Songshan (Sam), 2023. "The “unseen” tourism: Travel experience of people with visual impairment," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    14. Viken, Arvid & Höckert, Emily & Grimwood, Bryan S.R., 2021. "Cultural sensitivity: Engaging difference in tourism," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    15. Carnegie, Elizabeth & Kociatkiewicz, Jerzy, 2019. "Occupying whateverland: Journeys to museums in the Baltic," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 238-247.

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