Conceptualising magical tourism

Book chapter

Lovell, J. and Sharma, N. 2025. Conceptualising magical tourism. in: Lovell, J. and Sharma, N. (ed.) Magical Tourism and Enchanting Geographies: Storytelling, Heritage, Fantasy and Folklore Abingdon Routledge, Taylor and Francis. pp. 3-25
AuthorsLovell, J. and Sharma, N.
EditorsLovell, J. and Sharma, N.
Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to illuminate our understanding of why and how magical tourism has evolved and also define what magical tourism is and discuss its future potential. This chapter therefore first conceptualises magic and magical tourism, then elaborates on some over-arching attributes of magical tourism, othering, tropes and magical realism. The volume contents are then discussed, including chapters on history of magical travel, studies of affect, witch festivals, mythical animals, folkloric beasts, unmappable places that seem to retreat and slide sideways, multilayered place folklore and mythology, portals, nexuses of meaning, fayres and cos-play. Finally, the chapter concludes with thoughts drawing out the larger questions that the book raises.

KeywordsMagical tourism; Folklore; Animism; Magical realism; Mythology; Storytelling
Page range3-25
Year2025
Book titleMagical Tourism and Enchanting Geographies: Storytelling, Heritage, Fantasy and Folklore
Book authorsLovell, J. and Sharma, N.
PublisherRoutledge, Taylor and Francis
Output statusPublished
Place of publicationAbingdon
SeriesRoutledge Insights in Tourism Studies
ISBN9781040376935
Publication dates
Print06 Jun 2025
Online06 Jun 2025
Publication process dates
Accepted14 May 2025
Deposited16 Jul 2025
Official URLhttps://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003408475-2/conceptualising-magical-tourism-jane-lovell-nitasha-sharma?context=ubx&refId=397f51bc-a039-44e4-a2d4-01b8b0ebe346
Related URLhttps://www.routledge.com/Magical-Tourism-and-Enchanting-Geographies-Storytelling-Heritage-Fantasy-and-Folklore/Lovell-Sharma/p/book/9781032528045?srsltid=AfmBOopXaVBUIPUUMPiB7C4T_ietL1tI8Ae6DweU_-VwU8IEn0a8h09e
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