Copysites / duplitectures as tourist attractions: An exploratory study on experiences of Chinese tourists at replicas of foreign architectural landmarks in China
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Date
2020
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Publisher
Elservier
Abstract
This study aims to clarify the position of duplitectures/copysites in the theoretical stream of tourism authenticity.
It does so by exploring the meanings assigned by domestic Chinese tourists, based on their socially and culturally
held beliefs, while they interact with architectural imitations imported from alien cultures. The primary research
method is an emergent qualitative design that involved in-depth interviews of Chinese tourists at the eight
copysites considered in this study. The findings reveal three relevant themes. Reconceptualization of authenticity
indicates that the concept of imitation has very different connotations in China compared to those in the West.
Cultural self-exploration reflects an evolving stage of intercultural maturity manifested by Chinese tourists. Deglobalization has led to cultural homogenization of the tourist spaces in China. The findings fill the lacuna in
existing theoretical streams of tourism authenticity by clarifying the position of copysites and has practical
implications for domestic tourism marketing organizations in China.
Description
Tourism Management 81 (2020) 104179
Keywords
Copysites; Duplitecture ;Tourism authenticity; Chinese tourists; Architectural imitation; Domestic tourism; Cultural self-Exploration De-globalization