Tourism, big data, and a crisis of analysis. (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weaver, Adam
• Is Part Of: Annals of tourism research. Volume 88(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: Big data -- Statistics -- Crisis -- Capitalism -- Objectification; Tourism -- Periodicals
• DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2021.103158
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-7383

Abstract

Abstract: Efforts to aggregate data comprehensively have prompted a crisis of analysis. Such a crisis presents itself when big data use within the tourism industry increasingly treats individuals and their subjective practices as mere objects. Heightened recognition of tourism as a series of distinctive and creative human actions is counterbalanced by an exuberance for impersonal mass quantification. A crisis of analysis is identified through a qualitative study of tourism-focused trade journal articles that address big data. This type of crisis reflects the rise of a positivistic, business-driven way of knowing that creates tensions within the tourism industry. The position and power of individuals – tourists and practitioners – is steadily undermined and capital accumulation becomes threatened due to big data use. Highlights: A crisis of analysis characterizes the use of big data in the tourism industry. Big data use supports capital accumulation but also threatens to undermine it. The desire for aggregation exists in tension with concerns regarding individuals. A form of capitalism insensitive to the concerns of individuals encounters problems. A crisis of analysis stems from the objectification of individuals via big data use.