“Couchsurfing has made me a better person and the world a better place”: the transformative power of collaborative tourism experiences
2017; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 35; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/10548408.2017.1307159
ISSN1540-7306
AutoresAlain Decrop, Giacomo Del Chiappa, Jérôme Mallargé, Pietro Zidda,
Tópico(s)Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research
ResumoPresented as an alternative form of tourism, Couchsurfing is a predominantly non-commercial accommodation type where hosts offer a "couch" to travelers through a hospitality network. Couchsurfing.com is considered as an icon of the sharing economy and more specifically of shareable tourism. This article provides a deeper understanding of couchsurfers' motivations and shared values. Through an empirical qualitative study, we discuss the transformative power of Couchsurfing experiences, the underlying transformational processes, conditions, and socio-psychological and behavioral consequences. We also discuss the findings' implications for society, businesses, and tourism in general.
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