Understanding fan tourists at a non-commodified fan pilgrimage site: An application of fan capital theory
Document Type
Letter to the Editor
Publication Title
Current Issues in Tourism
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
School
School of Business and Law
RAS ID
40345
Funders
Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciene
Abstract
This study aims to examine how fan tourism emerges at a non-commodified touristic site and what constitutes meaningful, (in)authentic fan tourism experiences. The research focus is on Japanese fan tourists visiting the officially denied Attack on Titan media pilgrimage site in Nördlingen, Germany. Drawing on fan capital theory from fan studies, the findings suggest that two types of fan capital, namely fan cultural capital and fan symbolic capital, played an important role in establishing Nördlingen as a quasi-authentic fan pilgrimage site. Research suggests not only the absence of commodification at the site, but also fostering of the fan tourists’ imagination and affection with the site. Exclusivity and performativity of fan activities in situ were observed.
DOI
10.1080/13683500.2021.2011162
Access Rights
subscription content
Comments
Thelen, T., & Kim, S. (2023). Understanding fan tourists at a non-commodified fan pilgrimage site: An application of fan capital theory. Current Issues in Tourism, 26(1), 12-17.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2021.2011162