Role of Body in Travel: Wheelchair Users’ Experience from a Multi-Sensory Perspective
通过访谈和游记分析，研究了轮椅使用者在旅游中的身体实践，将其体验分为身体显现、身体在场和身体离开三个阶段，为理解残疾游客的旅游体验提供了新视角。
The body plays a crucial role in the experience of tourists utilizing a wheelchair, providing a constant reminder of the need to pay attention to the “body-self.” However, the mechanism behind their travel experience remains a theoretical black hole that needs to be explored. Embodiment theory offers a unique perspective for investigating the formation of the experience of tourists who use wheelchairs. This study aims to examine the body practices during tourism activities. In-depth interviews and travel notes were conducted with 24 wheelchair users and 22 travel notes, revealing that their experience can be described in three stages: body appearance, body presence, and body departure. Understanding the tourism experience of individuals with disabilities requires an approach that combines the material body and social construction perspectives. This study also offers insights into comprehending the formation of tourism experiences for other categories of tourists with disabilities. Additionally, drawing from the research findings, this study presents relevant recommendations to enhance the travel experience of tourists who use wheelchairs.