Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Aesthetics has long shaped the experiential dimension of tourism, yet conventional approaches have largely privileged visual or object-based beauty, leaving relational dimensions under-theorized. Drawing on relational aesthetics and relational ontology, this paper introduces the Destination Relational Aesthetic Qualities (DRAQ) framework, identifying five qualities—imperfection, incompleteness, non-authorialness, story-like quality, and serendipity—through which relational aesthetic value emerges in tourism encounters. These qualities position destinations as dynamic relational fields where aesthetic value is emergent and co-constituted through situated encounters. To connect theory with practice, the paper further discusses design implications that can guide how destinations cultivate these qualities across experiential domains. This study extends and complements existing approaches to tourism aesthetics by offering both a conceptual vocabulary for scholars and actionable insights for destination design.

Keywords

Relational aesthetics Destination Relational Aesthetic Qualities destination experience design tourism aesthetics well-being

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Aitken

Campelo

(2011). The four Rs of place branding. Journal of Marketing Management, 27(9–10), 913–933. https://doi.org/10.1080/0267257X.2011.560718

Aksenova

Cai

Gebbels

(2022). Multisensory prosumption: how cooking classes shape perceptions of destinations. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 34(9), 3417–3439. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-09-2021-1117

Anaya

G. J.

Lehto

(2023). “Moments to be had”: Understanding the experience of memorable tourism moments. Tourism Management, 95, Article 104674. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2022.104674

Baas

(Ed.). (2011). Fluxus and the essential questions of life. The University of Chicago Press.

Bai

(2023). Coming to our senses: Zen and the art of ecoactivism. Environmental Education Research, 29(6), 863–874. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2022.2094896

Barad

(2007). Meeting the universe halfway: Quantum physics and the entanglement of matter and meaning. Duke University Press. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Meeting_the_Universe_Halfway/H41WUfTU2CMC?hl=en&gbpv=0

Berlyne

D. E.

(1971). Aesthetics and psychobiology. Appleton-Century-Crofts. https://philpapers.org/rec/BERAAP-4

Bishop

(2004). Antagonism and relational aesthetics. October Magazine and MIT Press, 110, 51–79.https://doi.org/10.1162/0162287042379810

Black

(2005). The engaging museum: Developing museums for visitor involvement. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203559277

10.

Böhme

(1993). Atmosphere as the fundamental concept of a new aesthetics. Thesis Eleven, 36(1), 113–126. https://doi.org/10.1177/072551369303600107

11.

Bourriaud

(2002). Relational aesthetics. Les Presses du Réel. https://www.lespressesdureel.com/EN/ouvrage.php?id=5&menu=0

12.

Carlson

(2017). Performance: A critical introduction (3rd ed.). Routledge.

13.

Choi

(2013). Relational aesthetics in art museum education: Engendering visitors’ narratives through participatory acts for interpretive experience. Studies in Art Education, 55(1), 51–63. https://doi.org/10.1080/00393541.2013.11518916

14.

Chronis

(2005). Constructing heritage at the Gettysburg storyscape. Annals of Tourism Research, 32(2), 386–406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2004.07.009

15.

Cresswell

(2004). Place: A Short Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell.

16.

Dačić

(2015, August 11). Relational aesthetics—Critique of culture and radical research of social circumstance. Widewalls. https://www.widewalls.ch/relational-aesthetics-nicolas-bourriaud-social-circumstance

17.

Deleuze

Guattari

(1987). A thousand plateaus: Capitalism and schizophrenia ( B.

Massumi

, Trans.). University of Minnesota Press.

18.

Dewey

(2005 [1934]). Art as experience. Penguin.

19.

Dezeuze

(2006). Everyday life, “relational aesthetics” and the “transfiguration of the commonplace.” Journal of Visual Art Practice, 5(3), 143–152. https://doi.org/10.1386/jvap.5.3.143_1

20.

Downey

(2007). Towards a politics of (relational) aesthetics. Third Text, 21 (3), 267–275. https://doi.org/10.1080/09528820701360534

21.

Eco

(1989). The open work. Harvard University Press. https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Open_Work/7jroM0M8TuwC?hl=en&gbpv=0

22.

Edensor

(2007). Mundane mobilities, performances and spaces of tourism. Social & Cultural Geography, 8(2), 199–215. https://doi.org/10.1080/14649360701360089

23.

Edensor

(2012). Illuminated atmospheres: Anticipating and reproducing the flow of affective experience in Blackpool. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 30(6), 1103–1122. https://doi.org/10.1068/d12211

24.

Larsen

Hornskov

S. B.

Mansfeldt

O. K.

(2008). A dynamic framework of tourist experiences: Space-time and performances in the experience economy. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 8(2), 122–140. https://doi.org/10.1080/15022250802110091

25.

Emirbayer

(1997). Manifesto for a relational sociology. American Journal of Sociology, 103(2), 281–317. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/231209

26.

Ernwein

Matthey

(2019). Events in the affective city: Affect, attention and alignment in two ordinary urban events. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 51(2), 283–301. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308518X18757509

27.

Fink

T. M. A.

Reeves

Palma

Farr

R. S.

(2017). Serendipity and strategy in rapid innovation. Nature Communications, 8(1), 2002. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-02042-w

28.

Franklin

Crang

(2001). The trouble with tourism and travel theory? Tourist Studies, 1(1), 5–22. https://doi.org/10.1177/146879760100100101

29.

Kirillova

Lehto

X. Y.

(2022). Travel and life: A developmental perspective on tourism over the life course. Tourism Management, 89, Article 104447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2021.104447

30.

Gilgun

J. F.

(2015). Beyond description to interpretation and theory in qualitative social work research. Qualitative Social Work, 14(6), 741–752. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325015606513

31.

Guattari

(1995). Chaosmosis: An ethico-aesthetic paradigm ( Bains

Pefanis

, Trans.). Power Publications. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Chaosmosis/M2zoqaZe2SUC?hl=en&gbpv=0

32.

Haldrup

Larsen

(2006). Material cultures of tourism. Leisure Studies, 25(3), 275–289. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614360600661179

33.

Haldrup

Larsen

(2010). Tourism, performance and the everyday: Consuming the Orient. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203873939

34.

Hameed

Perkis

(2018, December). Spatial storytelling: Finding interdisciplinary immersion. In Rouse

Koenitz

Haahr

(eds) Interactive storytelling: 11th International Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling, ICIDS 2018, Dublin, Ireland, December 5–8, 2018, Proceedings 11 (pp. 323–332). Springer International Publishing.

35.

Hand

(2010). What is participatory and relational art? Irish Museum of Modern Art.

36.

Hirschheim

(2008). Some guidelines for the critical reviewing of conceptual papers. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 9(8), 432–441. https://doi.org/10.17705/1jais.00167

37.

Hume

Mort

G. S.

Liesch

P. W.

Winzar

(2006). Understanding service experience in non-profit performing arts: Implications for operations and service management. Journal of Operations Management, 24(4), 304–324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jom.2005.06.002

38.

Hurtado-Justiniano

M. N.

Valls-Pasola

Jaria Chacon

(2018). Art as a strategic element for innovation in gastronomic experiential services: The role of teamwork. Team Performance Management, 24(5–6), 316–330. https://doi.org/10.1108/TPM-05-2017-0022

39.

Irwandi

Sabana

Kusmara

A. R.

Sanjaya

(2023). Urban villages as living gallery: Shaping place identity with participatory art in Java, Indonesia. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 10(1), 2247671. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2023.2247671

40.

Jaakkola

(2020). Designing conceptual articles: Four approaches. AMS Review, 10, 18–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13162-020-00161-0

41.

Jong

Waitt

(2022). Contingent and affective disruptions: towards relational tourism geographies of what makes things food. Tourist Studies, 22(2), 117–129. https://doi.org/10.1177/14687976221096912

42.

Kadotani

Okajima

Yang

Lim

M. H.

(2022). The impact of social isolation and loneliness on mental health and well-being. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 1106216.https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1106216

43.

Kamprath

Henike

(2019). Serendipity and innovation: beyond planning and experimental-driven exploration. In Chen

B. J.

Berm

A. E

Wong

P. K.

(Eds.), The Routledge companion to innovation management (pp. 343–360). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315276670-17/serendipity-innovation-martin-kamprath-tassilo-henike

44.

Kirillova

(2023). A review of aesthetics research in tourism: Launching the Annals of Tourism Research Curated Collection on beauty and aesthetics in tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 100, Article 103553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2023.103553

45.

Kirillova

Lehto

Cai

(2014). What makes a destination beautiful? Dimensions of tourist aesthetic judgment. Tourism Management, 42, 282–293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2013.12.006

46.

Kirillova

Lehto

(2016). Aesthetic and restorative qualities of vacation destinations: How are they related? Tourism Analysis, 21(5), 513–527. https://doi.org/10.3727/108354216X14653218477651

47.

Kirillova

Yang

I. C. M.

(2022). The curse of conceptual research in tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 93, Article 103368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2022.103368

48.

Kruglanski

A. W.

(1990). Lay epistemic theory in social–cognitive psychology. Psychological Inquiry, 1(3), 181–197. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli0103_1

49.

Kurzwelly

Rapport

Spiegel

A. D.

(2020). Encountering, explaining and refuting essentialism. Anthropology Southern Africa, 43(2), 65–81. https://doi.org/10.1080/23323256.2020.1780141

50.

Latour

(2005). Reassembling the social: An introduction to actor-network-theory. Oxford University Press. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Reassembling_the_Social/AbQSDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0

51.

Law

(1992). Notes on the theory of the actor-network: Ordering, strategy, and heterogeneity. Systems Practice, 5(4), 379–393. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01059830

52.

Lee

K. S.

(2022). Culinary aesthetics: World-traveling with culinary arts. Annals of Tourism Research, 97, Article 103487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2022.103487

53.

Lee

K. S.

Bucher

(2023). Desnobberizing good eating and drinking: (Re)defining gastronomy and culinary arts. International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science, 33, Article 100798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgfs.2023.100798

54.

Lehto

X. Y.

Davari

Park

(2020). Transforming the guest–host relationship: A convivial tourism approach. International Journal of Tourism Cities, 6(4), 1069–1088. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJTC-06-2020-0121

55.

Lehto

X. Y.

Kirillova

Wang

(2022). Convergence of boundaries in tourism, hospitality, events, and leisure: Defining the core and knowledge structure. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 48(3), 407–419. https://doi.org/10.1177/10963480221108667

56.

Ligorio

M. B.

Talamo

Pontecorvo

(2005). Building intersubjectivity at a distance during the collaborative writing of fairytales. Computers & Education, 45, 357–374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2005.04.013

57.

MacCannell

(1976). The tourist: A new theory of the leisure class. Schocken Books Inc. https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Tourist/56kwDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0

58.

Melpignano

Azara

(2019). Conserving Italian World Heritage Sites through live music events: Exploring barriers and opportunities. Event Management, 23(4–5), 641–654. https://doi.org/10.3727/152599519X15506259855788

59.

Miller

(2016). Activism vs. antagonism: Socially engaged art from Bourriaud to Bishop and beyond. Field: A Journal of Socially Engaged Art Criticism, 3, 165–183.

60.

MIT Media Lab. (2025, March 25). Study finds extensive AI chatbot use can deepen feelings of loneliness. Marketplace Tech. https://www.media.mit.edu/articles/study-finds-extensive-ai-chatbot-use-can-deepen-feelings-of-loneliness

61.

Mohammadi

Yazdani

H. R.

Jami Pour

Soltani

(2021). Co-creation in tourism: A systematic mapping study. Tourism Review, 76(2), 305–343. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-10-2019-0425

62.

Nasiri

Kirillova

Wassler

(2024). Beyond beauty: Ugly and borderline tourism aesthetic experiences. Annals of Tourism Research, 105, Article 103703. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2023.103703

63.

Overend

(2012). Performing sites: Illusion and authenticity in the spatial stories of the guided tour. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 12(1), 44–54. https://doi.org/10.1080/15022250.2012.678070

64.

Pan

Ryan

(2009). Tourism sense-making: The role of the senses and travel journalism. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 26(7), 625–639. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548400903276897

65.

Pennings

(2005). Relational aesthetics and critical culture. In Proceedings of the Art Association of Australia and New Zealand Conference 2005: Transforming Aesthetics, pp. 1–9. Sydney, Australia: Art Gallery of New South Wales.

66.

Pernecky

(2024). Mobilizing relational ontology: Meeting the pluriversal challenge in tourism studies. Current Issues in Tourism, 27(22), 3623–3635. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2023.2281599

67.

Rancière

(2004). The politics of literature. SubStance, 33(1), 10–24. https://muse.jhu.edu/article/54196

68.

Richards

(2014). Tourism trends: The convergence of culture and tourism. Academy for Leisure, NHTV University of Applied Sciences. https://elearning.unite.it/pluginfile.php/243524/mod_resource/content/0/Tourism_trends_The_convergence_of_cultur.pdf

69.

Rickly-Boyd

J. M.

(2012). Authenticity & aura: A Benjaminian approach to tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 39(1), 269–289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2011.05.003

70.

Sacco

P. L.

Ghirardi

Tartari

Trimarchi

(2019). Two versions of heterotopia: The role of art practices in participative urban renewal processes. Cities, 89, 199–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2019.02.013

71.

Sawyer

R. K.

(2005). Social emergence: Societies as complex systems. Cambridge University Press. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Social_Emergence/Hgs007Rd_moC?hl=en&gbpv=0

72.

Scarles

(2009). Becoming tourist: Renegotiating the visual in the tourist experience. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 27(3), 465–488. https://doi.org/10.1068/d1707

73.

Stern

(2005). Intersubjectivity. In E. S.

Person

A. M.

Cooper

G. O.

Gobbard

(Eds.), Textbook of psychoanalysis (pp. 77–92). American Psychiatric Publishing.

74.

The Art Story. (2023). Relational aesthetics. https://www.theartstory.org/movement/relational-aesthetics/

75.

Trautman

(2016). Graffiti Alley—A different kind of art in Ann Arbor, Michigan + How to see graffiti differently. https://www.travel-mi.com/Graffiti-Alley.html#gallery[pageGallery]/0/

76.

Tuan

Y.-F.

(1977). Space and place: The perspective of experience. University of Minnesota Press.

77.

Tuan

Y-F.

(1979). Space and place: The perspective of experience. University of Minnesota Press. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Space_and_Place/M9SLfxpkscgC?hl=en&gbpv=0

78.

Urry

(1990). The tourist gaze: Leisure and travel in contemporary societies. Sage Publications.

79.

Vishmidt

(2008). The cultural logic of criticality. Journal of Visual Art Practice, 7(3), 253–269. https://doi.org/10.1386/jvap.7.3.253_1

80.

Wang

(1999). Rethinking authenticity in tourism experience. Annals of Tourism Research, 26(2), 349–370. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0160-7383(98)00103-0

81.

Waterton

Dittmer

(2014). The museum as assemblage: Bringing forth affect at the Australian War Memorial. Museum Management and Curatorship, 29(2), 122–139. https://doi.org/10.1080/09647775.2014.888819

82.

Westmoreland

M. W.

(2008). Interruptions: Derrida and hospitality. Kritike, 2(2), 1–10.

83.

Whitehead

A. N.

(1929). Process and reality. Macmillan. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Process_and_Reality/uJDEx6rPu1QC?hl=en&gbpv=0

84.

Zhang

(2020). Understanding aesthetic experiences in nature-based tourism: The important role of tourists’ literary association. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 16, Article 100429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2020.100429