Tourist emotional change and social media coping – evidence from interactions between tourists and host children in impoverished destinations

This study investigates tourist digital engagement and emotional experiences in their interactions with host children, both appropriately and inappropriately, in impoverished villages through the lens of sustainable development. Employing a mixed-methods approach that includes in-depth interviews and the FaceReader programme, the research reveals that positive emotions, such as happiness, dominate in appropriate interactions, whereas negative emotions, including sadness and anger, are prevalent in inappropriate ones. Furthermore, evidence indicates that posting about their travel experiences significantly enhances positive emotions in both contexts. According to this study, tourists’ sharing on social media platforms about their interactions with host children in impoverished villages could expose negative perceptions and sentiments to a broader audience, particularly in inappropriate conditions. Such online practices may foster an unfavorable public perception of impoverished villages and their young residents, and potentially exacerbate social inequalities between tourists and local communities. It is important to investigate and address these issues to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of responsible consumption (SDG 12) and reduction of inequalities (SDG 10). The present research also offers actionable insights for addressing responsible tourism practices, ethical storytelling, and the reduction of power imbalances.