‘Reverse gaze’ in spiritual tourism: fact or myth?

Polus, Reni

Abstract

The term ‘reverse gaze’ is used in tourism academia to describe the interaction between tourist photographers and local subjects, which challenges traditional power dynamics in tourism. However, further research is needed to explore this concept within the wider context of tourism. In this research note, I adopt an autoethnographic approach to provide a reflective analysis of the Ganga Aarti ritual in India. Specifically, I examine the nuances of the reverse gaze concept in the realm of spiritual tourism, contributing to a deeper understanding of its dynamics. Through exploring the interplay between tourists and locals during the Ganga Aarti ritual, this study sheds light on the transformative power of the reverse gaze and its implications for cultural immersion and spiritual experiences. The empirical findings contribute to the existing body of knowledge in tourism studies and provide opportunities for further exploration in this area.

Citation

Polus, R. (2025). ‘Reverse gaze’ in spiritual tourism: fact or myth?. Tourism Recreation Research, 50(2), 440-444. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2023.2252679

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 19, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Aug 31, 2023
• Publication Date: 2025
• Deposit Date: Jul 12, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 15, 2024
• Print ISSN: 0250-8281
• Electronic ISSN: 2320-0308
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 50
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 440-444
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2023.2252679
• Keywords: Reverse gaze; spiritual tourism; autoethnography; tourism photography; Ganga Aarti ritual
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/3709386