Understanding Tourists’ Emotions in Time and Space: Combining GPS Tracking and Biosensing to Detect Spatial Points of Emotion

Abstract

The main contribution of the study is to provide a new methodological and analytical approach in conceptualising and measuring spatial points of emotion (SPoE). It contributes to the further development of mobile methods in applied tourism geography. A mixed-methods design, including georeferenced biosensing data and contextual information, such as video data and ex-post interviews, was used to examine positive SPoE. A conceptual framework was developed for measuring SPoE. The results showed that georeferenced biosensing indicators can be used to identify SPoE in a tourism setting. Using a data-driven and episode-driven approach, visitors’ points of relaxation at the beach can be identified. However, there are some limitations to the method, as the interpretation of biosensing signals in a real-world situation needs further clarification. Validly identifying positive valences should be a focus in future tourism research.

Keywords

• gps tracking
• biosensing
• spatio-temporal behaviour
• emotion
• tourism experience
• mixed-methods