Place production, urban tourism geographies and experiences of Muße

Abstract

Urban tourism, as a social, cultural, and economic field, has been strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a reverse effect of this crisis, however, there is a recent shift away from the dominant logics of performance and efficiency towards mindfulness, serenity, and similar concepts that shape the everyday life of an increasing number of people. All these terms are related to the semantic field of Muße, a word derived from the German language, which is defined as the experience of moments of freedom, indulgence, placidity, and recreation. Following the idea that social phenomena are reflected and reproduced in tourism, the objective is to explore how and where tourists experience Muße in urban tourism. A focus on Muße first enables a better understanding of tourists’ travel behaviour, expectations, and needs. In the same vein, it is possible to examine tourism place-making since the need for Muße produces and transforms individual tourists’ worlds of experiences. Although place-making practices and experiences have been widely studied, their relationship to Muße remains to be explored in urban and tourism research. With the aim to study practices and places of Muße in urban tourism, the presented qualitative content analysis draws upon 84 interviews conducted with tourists in Barcelona, Florence, and Paris in 2019. Findings show that the practice of sitting is relevant for experiences of Muße with a particular impact on place-making. Six categories are suggested to illustrate how Muße can be effective while tourists are sitting. This includes a detailed discussion of the spatial dimensions of Muße. In conclusion, places of Muße are highly individual, intangible, and complex. Insights into the characteristics of Muße and engagement with this new concept in international tourism research can be used as resources to study tourist place-making and support the planning for sustainable tourism development.