A TOURISTIC HABITATION: AUTOMOBILITIES OF CHINESE DRIVING TOURISTS

摘要

AS AN EMERGENT TOURISM SECTOR, DRIVING TOURISM CONNECTS CAR USE AND TOURISTIC ACTIVITIES INTIMATELY. FOLLOWING THE NOTION OF THE ‘INHABITED CAR’, THIS ARTICLE EXPLORES HOW AND WHY CHINESE TOURISTS INHABIT A TRAVELLING CAR FOR DRIVERS/PASSENGERS IN THE LEISURE AUTOMOBILITY AND DRIVING TOURISM CONTEXT. THROUGH THREE DIFFERENT ROAD TRIPS AND ‘MOBILE METHODS’, IT WAS FOUND THAT CHINESE TOURISTS INHABIT THE CAR IN FOUR WAYS: DRIVING, GAZING, LISTENING, AND COMMUNICATING. THROUGH THIS EMBODIED HABITATION, THE CAR IS TURNED INTO A ‘TOURISTIC INHABITATION’ SPACE FOR PROTECTING THE TOURISTS GENERATING TOURISTIC EMOTIONS、SOCIAL INTERACTIONS, AND TOURISM MEANINGS. THE STUDY CONTRIBUTES TO AUTOMOBILITY AND TOURISM LITERATURE AND PROVIDES IMPLICATIONS FOR DRIVING TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA.