Find peace in the fairy tale of Giethoorn - An analysis of Chinese tourists' perception of authenticity in relation to Occidentalism

dc.contributor.advisorSintobin, T.M.J.
dc.contributor.advisorFurnée, W.J.H.
dc.contributor.authorBenthem, R. van
dc.date.issued2019-07-10
dc.description.abstractAuthenticity is a much-discussed subject within tourism studies. However, it is usually approached from a Western viewpoint. The investigation of the meaning of authenticity for tourists in the Asian world has been lacking closer attention. Studies that have investigated the perception of authenticity for Asian tourists, have done so in an Asian environment and by method of surveys. Existing research implied that for Chinese tourists, the perception of subject-related authenticity is not as dominant as that of object-related authenticity. By analysing blogs from Chinese visitors to Giethoorn, a village in The Netherlands, this present study shows that alongside objective and constructive authenticity, existential authenticity is actually a big part of Chinese visitors' tourist experience. The study identifies 5 main themes relating to their perception of authenticity: 1). "The real Netherlands"; 2). An imaginative world; 3). Peace and nature; 4). The host as a reflection of authenticity; and 5). Other tourists. Within the Chinese tourists' quest for authenticity in Giethoorn, Occidentalist views can be identified, which are very similar to Orientalist views that are often projected upon the Orient. The Occidentalist views are characterized by the projection of stylized and generalized images of the West on Giethoorn, the projection of desires and fantasies onto the location, and the simplification and harmonization of the local community in an effort to increase the host's authenticity. Therefore, it can be concluded that when it comes to concepts that before belonged to Western tourists, like the quest for authenticity and Othering of the host, Chinese tourists should not be excluded.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://theses.ubn.ru.nl/handle/123456789/8985
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.thesis.facultyFaculteit der Letterenen_US
dc.thesis.specialisationTourism and Cultureen_US
dc.thesis.studyprogrammeMaster Kunst- en Cultuurwetenschappenen_US
dc.thesis.typeMasteren_US
dc.titleFind peace in the fairy tale of Giethoorn - An analysis of Chinese tourists' perception of authenticity in relation to Occidentalismen_US
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