The most important trip for who I am: exploring the dimensions of the Eudaimonic Tourist Experience

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7784/rbtur.v14i1.1599

Keywords:

Tourist experience, Eudaimonia, Positive psychology

Abstract

Based on a review of the concept of eudaimonia, the study proposes a definition for the eudaimonic tourist experience construct and identifies 15 potential constituent dimensions of the construct, from an extensive literature review in the domains of positive psychology, existential-humanistic psychology, developmental psychology (studies on identity formation in the Eriksonian stream) and tourism (studies on transformative tourism experience). In order to validate the theorized dimensions, a survey with 569 subjects was undertaken. The results of the exploratory factor analysis revealed six factors (Alterity and Benevolence, Intimacy and Belonging, Personal meaningfulness, Openness to the new, Autonomy and Maturity), which accounted for 62.636% of the total variance. Through strong theoretical and empirical foundation, the study aimed to contribute to the understanding of the transformative processes provided by tourist experiences, proposing a multidimensional structure for eudaimonic experiences in tourism contexts.

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Author Biographies

Sandro Alves de Medeiros, Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), Penedo, Brazil

Undergraduate in Business Administration at the Center for Higher Studies of Maceió (1995), Marketing Specialist at ESPM (1999), Master of Science in Business Administration at UFAL (2005), PhD in Business Administration at CEPEAD/UFMG (2018), Professor of Tourism at the Federal University of Alagoas since 2006.

Márcio Augusto Gonçalves, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Undergraduate in Civil Engineering at EEK / MG (1982), Specialist in Systems Analysis at ICEx / UFMG (1986), Master of Science in Business Administration at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (1993) and PhD in Business Administration at Aston University (2002). Associate Professor at CEPEAD / UFMG. Head coordinator of the Health Cost Observatory Network. Leader of the Health Cost Observatory Nucleus - NOCES. Head Editor of the Journal of Hospital Administration and Health Innovation - RAHIS (ISSN 1983-5205). Head Coordinator of CEPEAD / UFMG 2013/2017.

Ricardo Teixeira Veiga, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Undergraduate in Computer Science at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (1987), Master of Science in Business Administration at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (1993) and PhD in Business Administration at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (2000). Associate Professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais and collaborating professor at the Center for Leisure and Recreation Studies / UFMG. Member of the editorial committee of the Revista de Administração FACES and the Journal of Hospital Administration and Innovation in Health (RAHIS). A reviewer of the Journal of Contemporary Management (RAC), Business Administration Review (RAE), Brazilian Administration Review (BAR), Management Research Review, and other indexed international journals. Head Coordinator of the NECC - Statistics and Behavioral Sciences Center. Associate editor of the Brazilian Administration Review (ISSN 1807-7692).

Giovana Barbosa Caraciolo, Ministério da Agricultura, Maceió, Alagoas, Brasil

Undergraduate in Business Administration at Faculty of Alagoas / Estácio, and undergraduate in Law at the Center for Higher Studies of Maceió. Specialist in Public Law at Escola Paulista de Direito. Planning and Budget Technician of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply since 2010.

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Published

2020-01-14

How to Cite

Medeiros, S. A. de, Gonçalves, M. A., Veiga, R. T., & Caraciolo, G. B. (2020). The most important trip for who I am: exploring the dimensions of the Eudaimonic Tourist Experience. Revista Brasileira De Pesquisa Em Turismo, 14(1), 14–33. https://doi.org/10.7784/rbtur.v14i1.1599

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Vol. 14 No. 1 (2020): janeiro/abril

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