An examination of tourists’ identity in tourist weblogs

Abstract

The present study focused on one of the new mass media technologies, weblogs, which allow more tourists to construct an expressive self by posting their writings about their travel experiences. The current research examined the meanings represented in the personal travel experiences and how self-identity is constructed in the touristic discourse. Utilizing critical discourse analysis (CDA), the travel blogs posted by Chinese tourists about their experiences of visiting a Chinese minority group—the matriarchal Mosuo—were analyzed. Among 69 blogs, four major topics were located. The study identified the fragmented, fluid, and flexible nature of self-identity constructed in the postmodern social conditions.