Tourism on the move: anaysis of visitor experiences and routes in Los Lagos Region (Chile)

Abstract

Tourism on the move, as an activity that involves places, territories, and mobilities, constitutes a central axis for defining the experiences of visitors in the age of globalization. The purpose of this article is to characterize the experiences of visitors to Los Lagos Region in relation to the subjective construction of tourism as an activity carried out while moving through the visited territory, which is closely linked to the perception of those who visit, choose, and experience the places and routes of the areas examined. A qualitative methodology was used to interview frequent visitors to the region, who demonstrated advanced knowledge of the territory of study. The findings show the value of tourism as a practice that generates instances of self-realization, the construction of touristic routes in close relation to individual preferences, the role of tourism as an activity that encourages instances of cultural heritage, and the revitalization of tourism in places with relevant landscape attractions.