Resort Spatiality

<p>This book theorises resorts as distinct kinds of urban milieux capturing the complexity of destinations famous for ‘sun sand and sex’ mass tourism. Drawing on qualitative field research (participant observation interviews and photography) the book discusses examples from six international resort destinations spread across four continents: the Gold Coast Australia; Phuket and Koh Phangan Thailand; Cancún Mexico; Miami USA; and Ibiza Spain.</p><p>The book reviews the material and symbolic production of lived spaces in these resorts considering the mutually constitutive mutually transformative relations between their spatial formations built environments popular imaginaries representations narratives of identity rhythms and the experiences and practices of both tourists and locals. In doing so it argues for more nuanced ways of conceptualising tourism globalisation and spatiality reimagining how these phenomena unfold in lived spaces.</p><p>Taking a cultural studies approach to urban analysis the book demonstrates the value in embracing complexity fluidity partiality and uncertainty. It will be of interest to students and researchers of tourism geography cultural studies development studies anthropology and sociology.</p>