Let's get this show on the road! Introducing the tourist celebrity gaze

Abstract

The tourist celebrity gaze is identified and outlined in this article. A netnographic study of adventure backpackers' social media, documenting their taking part in the 2019 Mongol Rally, highlights a shift from touring places to being on tour. Hereby, the tourist may go travelling not only to observe, but to be observed by others. Symptomatic of this inverted gaze, distinctions from other travellers are drawn, making the tourist stand out, and attention is solicited and reported upon whilst on the road. The tourist enters an obverse panopticon where they can perform for an audience. Certain destinations and selective use of social media support this performance. Revealed therefore, is an extension of the traditional tourist gaze building on more recently described technologically mediated gazes.