Metaverse and Tourism Destinations’ Sense of Place

Abstract

Sense of place, what a tourist thinks and feels about a geographically-defined region or community, has been a central concept of tourism. The traditional conceptualization of sense of place is based on the assumption that a constellation of place-related cognitions and affects is contained within the physical boundaries of a place. However, the advent of metaverse, a confluence of multiple advanced technologies, has challenged the long-held assumption of clear geographical demarcation of a place. Metaverse also extends the temporal, spatial and experiential dimensions of a place. In other words, what constitutes a place is being redefined. In addition, latest sensory technologies have significantly augmented our senses, redefining what constitutes senses. It is not a stretch to suggest that metaverse significantly alters and expands the meanings of place, sense, and sense of place. Given this context, in this research, we attempt to explore how metaverse as a confluence of technologies and as a new paradigm is redefining sense of place in tourism destinations.