The Impact of Transformative Experiences
How are transformative experiences related to innovation and sustainability in tourism?
Putting AI topics aside for a moment, I wanted to share with you my thoughts on a new study that provides a new framework to help us understand the impact of transformative experiences in tourism. In this post, I will try to discuss how transformative experiences are related to innovation and sustainability in tourism.
''Transformative tourism experiences are powerful life moments with the capacity to elevate individuals’ well-being.''
Transformative experiences not only entertain us (hedonic well-being) but also contribute to our personal growth and self-understanding (eudaimonic well-being).
This study on 519 travel blogs talks about the importance of balancing these two aspects of well-being in creating memorable and impactful experiences. But what is the difference between hedonic and eudaimonic well-being?
Hedonic Well-being: This is all about happiness and pleasure. It's the kind of well-being you feel when you're enjoying a delicious meal, relaxing on a beach, or watching your favorite movie. It's about feeling good and experiencing pleasure in the moment.
Eudaimonic Well-being: This goes a bit deeper. It's about personal growth, purpose, and meaning in life. It's the kind of well-being you might feel when you're learning a new skill, helping others (volunteering), or pursuing a passion project. It's not just about feeling good, but about fulfilling your potential and living a life that is true to who you are. A life of virtue.
In other words, hedonic well-being is about enjoying life, while eudaimonic well-being is about leading a meaningful life. Both are important for overall happiness and satisfaction and both can lead to transformative experiences.
The authors also introduced an "activities-needs-well-being" framework, that illustrates how engaging in certain activities can fulfill individuals' psychological needs, leading to enhanced well-being. It’s like a roadmap to feeling good and living a meaningful life.
Here's how it works:
Activities: These are the things you do in your day-to-day life. It could be anything from painting, playing a sport, cooking, or even just hanging out with friends.
Needs: As you do these activities, you're fulfilling certain psychological needs. These needs could be things like feeling connected to others, feeling competent and skilled, or feeling like you're in control of your life.
Well-being: When these needs are met through the activities you engage in, it leads to a sense of well-being. You feel happier and more satisfied with life. You're not just enjoying the moment (that's the hedonic part), but you're also finding meaning and personal growth in what you're doing (that's the eudaimonic part).
So, in brief, the "activities-needs-well-being" framework is about finding the right activities that meet your psychological needs, leading to a happier and more fulfilling life.
How is all of this connected to innovation and sustainability in tourism? Let’s discuss it.
Innovation
Innovation inspires our curiosity and can broaden our perspectives. The field of tourism innovation is broader than ever. Embracing concepts such as AR, VR, AI, blockchain and data-driven travel recommendations can enhance the travel experience. They foster growth and curiosity among passionate travelers.
Based on our experience organizing events using blockchain technology, the Web3 retreat in Greece and the NFT dinner, I can say that these travelers found like-minded people with whom they could discuss topics they cared about. This innovation helped create a setting for transformative experiences, but ultimately they were not a replacement for physical contact, as some people fear will happen in the travel industry. Rather, they enhanced it.
That's the power of innovation - it not only enhances the travel experience, but it can also promote personal growth and well-being.
Sustainability
To understand why a traveler would change their behavior and contribute to sustainable and regenerative tourism, this research is very important. We rarely keep quiet about our donations and most donations are not anonymous, say the authors of The Elephant in The Brain. People want to volunteer in some way to feel good about themselves and to feel like they are doing something good for society and our planet.
This is related to the idea of eudaimonic well-being - where personal growth and self-understanding come through meaningful interactions and experiences.
Sustainable travel initiatives have the potential to provide transformative experiences that can change the way people view their impact, if they are not greenwashed and cloaked with harmful intentions. Either opting for eco-friendly accommodations, socially sustainable platforms, or participating in ethical volunteer opportunities that contribute to the community.
Through innovation and sustainability in tourism, we can create transformative experiences that not only entertain us, but also contribute to our personal growth and self-understanding.
Transformative experiences in tourism, enabled by innovation and enhanced by sustainability, have the power to impact personal development and contribute to a more sustainable world. Moreover, innovation in tourism is not just about technology. It is also about creating new business models that foster community engagement and cultural preservation, thereby supporting social sustainability.
Our Living Learning Lab events, for example, are a testament to this concept - creating transformative experiences by immersing participants in local heritage and culture and fostering a sense of community and belonging.
We aim to provide experiences that challenge, inspire and transform. Transform ourselves and the local community. We do this through immersive workshops, discussions, and leisure activities that draw from our local culture and heritage.
You can still grab a spot at our adventure in Slovenia happening on June 24. More info here.
We occasionally have trouble explaining the point of **meaningful** experiences. I suppose the answer lies in the question:
What are your personal hedonic and eudaimonic preferences?
**Your** meaningfulness is hiding there.