Third International Conference on Tourism & Leisure Studies

Abstract

Through an analysis of the mediative techniques involved in the production of videographic tourist memorabilia (specifically souvenir DVDs of learning to SCUBA dive), in this paper I render visible the often unconsidered aspects of visual media production that result in, not only visual images themselves, but also by extension, the construction of alternate realities of leisure space, tourist performance, and gap-year identity by young tourists and tourism operators. A connectionist approach to the study of memory is advocated highlighting that mediatory technologies, whilst acting as stimulants for recollection, actually inform and construct memories rather than transmitting realistic snippets of past experience. In the paper it is questioned whether “authenticity” is a relevant frame of reference bearing in mind that the “post-tourist” is often perfectly aware of the lack of authenticity in many tourist activities and happy to go along with a pretence. With this in mind, the paper concludes by stating that “reality” is arguably being edited-out of memories concerning tourism’s places and practices through the production of commercially driven and produced “souvenirs.”