Welcome to stay-at-home travel and virtual attention restoration

The present investigation takes a qualitative approach to explore Airbnb's Online Experience as a new virtual tourism initiative through the lens of attention restoration theory. Data were collected from tourist reviews at Airbnb's platform with an emphasis on touring services such as sightseeing and cultural immersion sessions. Our findings first point to a multitude of virtual tour experiences germane to deep immersion, authenticity, nostalgia, hedonism, past-present resonance, novelty, learning, social interaction, and escape. These stay-at-home virtual restorative experiences were infused by Airbnb's state-of-the-art platform with features such as a super host, storytelling, personalization, virtual connection, stay-at-home indulgence, and technology enablement, which ultimately transcend home as the center stage for virtual attention restoration under the COVID-19 new normal.

Automated summary

This qualitative investigation examines Airbnb's Online Experience as a novel virtual tourism initiative using attention restoration theory. The study analyzes tourist reviews from Airbnb's platform, focusing on touring services such as sightseeing and cultural immersion. The findings reveal a variety of virtual tour experiences related to deep immersion, authenticity, nostalgia, hedonism, past-present resonance, novelty, learning, social interaction, and escape. Airbnb's state-of-the-art platform, with features such as super hosts, storytelling, personalization, virtual connection, stay-at-home indulgence, and technology enablement, transcends the idea of home as the central stage for virtual attention restoration amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.