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

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

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

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