2025/02/07 by Timo Thelen, Sangkyun Kim, T. Kai +1 · 3 voices · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research #Religious Tourism and Spaces #Tourism, Volunteerism, and Development
paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/14616688.2025.2462234
openalex publication_date 2025/02/07 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/16
The concept of placemaking describes the transformation and development of a site directed by the local authorities. This longitudinal study examines the emergence of a fan pilgrimage site in rural Japan and the subsequent placemaking process to establish it as a popular culture tourism site. The study uncovers friction among stakeholders and backlash against the top-down placemaking approach from both residents and fans, whose attitudes are more critical and impactful than those of non-fan tourists towards making the place. The study contributes to a nuanced understanding of placemaking dynamics and complexity by drawing on a non-Western context and its particularities, highlighting that a longitudinal investigation provides in-depth insights into stakeholder conflicts and potentials.