Online expression as Well-be(com)ing: A study of travel blogs on Nepal by Chinese female tourists

• DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2020.104224
• Publication Date: 2020-10-06T00:03:10Z
• Authors: Wenyue Xu; Xiaoming Zhang
• Keywords: Expression (computer science)

Abstract Many Chinese female tourists’ travel blogs depict Nepal as an undeveloped destination, while also describe it as a “land of happiness”. This contradiction triggers the question: How can potential tourists interpret their well-being experience from these descriptions? This study concentrates on a thematic analysis of 28 travel blogs based on the adjustment of Goffman’s Dramaturgy. It summarises these well-being features: ① preparations; ② three-act plays of well-being; ③ expressing strategies to approach well-being. It concludes that female tourists have access to well-being by expressing themselves online, instead of using standard valuation for their subjective well-being. These findings benefit aspiring tourists, as well as destination marketing organization or travel operators to improve their promotions of Nepal as a destination. Moreover, “well-being” is no longer a comprehensive noun depicting the static mind/state but be replaced by “well-becoming”, illustrating the enduring process of people’s pursuing happiness.