ABSTRACT
GAYLE JENNINGS, YOUNG-SOOK LEE, and AMANDA AYLING Department of Tourism, Leisure, Hotel and Sport Management, Griffith Business School,
Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
BROOKE LUNNY Gold Coast City Council, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
CARL CATER Department of Tourism, Leisure, Hotel and Sport Management, Griffith Business School,
Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
CLAUDIA OLLENBURG Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
“Quality tourism experiences,” including its singular form, is a well used phrase in tourism industry literature and traveller dialogues. Yet definitions of a quality tourism experience remain elusive. Tourism studies, recreation and marketing literature similarly resonate with numerous applications of the phrase as well as its contributing terms. A social constructivist approach was applied to a literature review, in order to reflect on the status of “quality tourism experiences,” its meanings, as well as research approaches used and research agendas proffered. From the review emerged multiple interpretations and constructions as well as an emphasis on complexity. Research approaches were predicated to post/positivistic approaches. Research agendas essayed to understand specific dimensions of quality tourism experiences along with more holistic frames.
