Technology-Assisted Mindfulness in the Co-creation of Tourist Experiences

The practice of meditative mindfulness as a process of bringing a certain quality of attention to moment-by-moment experiences is considered important in achieving subjective wellbeing. In the era of increasing digitization, a new trend in the use of technological devices and smartphone applications has arisen which aims to cultivate mindfulness in everyday lives. This trend holds important repercussions for the development of e-Tourism, especially in the context of managing and (co-)creating tourist experiences, as attention to and awareness of a present moment experience represent the pillars of mindfulness. Although there are several studies that discuss meditative mindfulness in the context of tourism, there are no clear directions on how to employ technology-assisted mindfulness in achieving specific business goals, such as to (co-)create tourist experiences. This chapter provides a comprehensive and critical review of technology-assisted mindfulness in the context of tourist experiences. To this end, it first elaborates upon the definition of meditative mindfulness. It, then, takes stock of research on technology-assisted mindfulness, discusses the scope for the co-creation of technology-assisted mindful tourist experiences, and analyses the antecedents of their integration into organizational practices of tourism and hospitality enterprises. Finally, the chapter outlines directions for future research.