The (re)production of climbing space: bodies, gestures, texts

According to Lefebvre, space is not an absolute given, an empty and presumed starting point, but space is produced through human action. Further, he contends, there is a material basis to the production of space – the “practical and fleshy body”. The body must be conceived as both active in the production of space, as well as produced by space, and thereby subject to the determinants of that space. This paper demonstrates the crucial role of the body in Lefebvre’s trialectic as it interrogates the embodied mobile practice of rock climbing, specifically sport climbing. First, it begins with an examination of the role of climbing bodies in the production of climbing space; put into practice by the perceived space of the rock, bodies shape and are shaped by this interaction. Second, it investigates the mechanisms that continue the production of climbing space off the rock face, as climbers communicate with practice-specific gestures and jargon. Third, it approaches climbing landscapes as texts, focusing on the production of representations of space as routes are inscribed on rock faces, transcribed into guidebooks and websites, and circulated among climbing media. Finally, considering landscape as a way of seeing forces the investigation to return, full-circle, to situate the ways bodies enact landscapes in relation to textual representations of space. As such, this paper explores the relationality of individual climbing bodies, rock climbing communities, and climbing media in the (re)production of climbing space to demonstrate the complementarity of landscape-body and landscape-as-text perspectives in the social production of space

“They all have a different vibe”: a rhythmanalysis of climbing mobilities and the Red River Gorge as place

This paper integrates a mobilities perspective and Lefebvre’s notion of rhythmanalysis as a means interrogate place as an entanglement of mobilities, moorings, and rhythms. By investigating one popular rock climbing destination, this paper demonstrates that mobilities invite encounters with and enactments of place such that travel rhythms, everyday rhythms, and natural rhythms coalesce, interrupt, and even emerge anew. Focusing on lifestyle rock climbers (a particular type of lifestyle mobility dedicated to the pursuit of climbing) and events provides evidence for the ways informational and physical mobilities contribute to and even regiment rock climbing travel rhythms, while the everyday rhythms of place illustrate embodiment as crucial to the enfolding of rhythm and mobilities. Building from Lefebvre’s theory of rhythm and Edensor and Holloway’s (2008) re-articulation of its potential for mobilities studies, this paper emphasizes the ongoing relationality of embodied mobilities and bodily rhythms, seasonal rhythms and informational mobilities, collective mobilities and institutional rhythms

The fantasy of authenticity: touring with Lacan

Amidst the plethora of research regarding the meaning of authenticity, there remains uncertainty as to the work authenticity performs in tourism. Existential authenticity conceptually shifts focus from the objects of touristic practice to a sense of Being, suggesting that authenticity can be achieved, albeit only in the liminal moments of tourism experiences. Psychoanalysis would contend otherwise – authenticity will always be beyond our reach. In a 2006 publication, Tim Oakes broaches the topic when discussing authenticity as “an abyss”. We revisit that idea, developing it further through the lens of Lacanian psychoanalysis to argue that authenticity is a fantasy. It is not an empty concept, however, but like all fantasies authenticity does important work, particularly in tourism marketing and touristic motivation and experience. To better understand how authenticity as a fantasy fosters tourism desire, it is necessary to develop a conceptual understanding of alienation in relation to tourism motivation. This paper moves alienation from the periphery to the center of tourism theories, demonstrates the dialectical relationship of authenticity/alienation, and posits that as a fantasy authenticity is a malleable concept that has the ability to contextualize the “something” that is missing from our lives. As such, it will remain salient in tourism

Suppliers' perceptions on engaging in smart destinations: Evidence from Ljubljana

Although it is acknowledged in research and practice that multiple, diverse tourism stakeholders are essential for the development of smart destinations, local tourism supplier participation is still lacking. There is limited understanding of how to engage suppliers in these collaborations, hence, this study explores 31 suppliers' perceptions on their engagement with the development of smart initiatives in Ljubljana, Slovenia. A qualitative method study was applied, which was based on semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that involvement in smart destination development is based on relational influences that were tied to previous collaborative relationships for resource sharing. Organisational factors were also influences that affected supplier engagement prior and during collaboration. Engagement influences are also specific to the destination context, which were related to historical cultural norms. These further facilitated or hindered suppliers' involvement. The paper draws valuable conclusions for leaders of smart developments, destination management organisations, tourism associations and businesses in Ljubljana and further afield where there is a need for implementation, integration and continuance of smart tourism initiatives. Research Highlights • The paper revealed local tourism suppliers' in-depth and nuanced perspectives on engaging in smart destination development. • The influences of supplier engagement were holistically presented through a variety of relational and organisational factors. • The study applied qualitative methods to examine Ljubljana, Slovenia, which gave rise to context-specific factors that were both facilitators and inhibitors

Traveling with a guide dog: Confidence, constraints and affective qualities of the human-guide dog relationship

Guide dogs enhance the confidence of people with vision impairment (PwVI) and improve their everyday mobility, but they also present constraints to travel. This paper investigates the influence of the PwVI-guide dog relationship on travel behavior through a mixed method study of guide dog owners in the United Kingdom. Results from the quantitative analysis show that confidence to work the dog outside its normal environment has a significant positive effect on the number of overnight trips taken with the dog. Qualitative findings highlight the affective qualities of the relationship that influence change in travel behavior to accommodate guide dog limitations and well-being. This study expands our understanding of the diversity of interpersonal relations that influence accessible travel behavior and contributes to human-animal relations research in tourism