Authenticity in Tourism Experiences

Abstract

Authenticity is a term that emerged from the modern era. Travellers are demanding authentic, experientially oriented opportunities with more meaningful interactions with locals. Travellers of the new generation want to have meaningful travel which is sustainable as well as experiential. The rise of an experience economy that concentrates on entertainment, education, escapism, and esthetics has made authentic travel experiences more critical. The tourists are more aware of their needs and are motivated towards places that offer real experiences. The chapter aims to explain the concept of authenticity and relate it to the tourism and hospitality industry. The discussion around various kinds of authenticity as described in the literature has been done. A case study demonstrating authentic experiences in rural homestays has been included in the chapter. Further authentic experiences derived from various tourism and hospitality sectors like food, accommodation, and entertainment have been explained.