Tourism and the pursuit of subjective wellbeing: A temporal perspective

Tourists seeking subjective wellbeing often experience a shift from the fast-paced life at home to a slower rhythm in destinations, a phenomenon termed 'temporal retreat.' This study highlights how such experiences in Lijiang Old Town, China, can enhance wellbeing through therapeutic social and spatial orchestration. By examining domestic independent tourists' perceptions, researchers found that slowdown and relaxation in contrast to bustling urban life at home contribute significantly to comfort and wellbeing. The analysis suggests that tourism, when viewed temporally, not only offers a means to improve quality of life but also deepens the understanding of therapeutic destination qualities.

Yin, D., Huang, Q., & Su, X. (2020). Tourism and the pursuit of subjective wellbeing: A temporal perspective. The Geographical Journal, 186(4), 403–414. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/geoj.12360