Urban sensory map: How do tourists sense a destination spatially?

Tourism sensory experiences represent a spatially constrained and constructed process influenced by various environmental stimuli. Although growing academic attention has been devoted to sensory tourism, few studies have incorporated spatiality into investigations of sensory experiences. This study establishes a macro-meso-micro analytical framework to explore the relationships among sensory experiences and spatial environmental characteristics based on social media big data. This research also moves beyond the conventional fivesense framework to include a sixth sense-interoception. Results (a) uncover the spatial distribution and relationships among sensory experiences in a destination; (b) demonstrate associations between attraction types and sensory experiences; and (c) illustrate interactions between environmental attributes and sensory encounters. This study theoretically clarifies relevant antecedents, extends a sense-based framework, and multidimensionally enriches tourism sensory experiences; empirically offer guidance for sensory environment planning, marketing, and management. Results also produce methodological insights for adopting social media big data to capture sensory experiences.

Automated summary

Tourism sensory experiences are influenced by various environmental stimuli and spatial constraints. This study uses social media big data to establish a macro-meso-micro analytical framework to explore the relationships between sensory experiences and spatial environmental characteristics. The research uncovers the spatial distribution and relationships among sensory experiences in a destination, demonstrates associations between attraction types and sensory experiences, and illustrates interactions between environmental attributes and sensory encounters. This study clarifies relevant antecedents, extends a sense-based framework, and provides guidance for sensory environment planning, marketing, and management. The results also offer methodological insights for using social media big data to capture sensory experiences.