Social Discipline or Personal Order? Exploring the Touristic Ritual in Young People in China

ABSTRACT Tourism has long been considered a special ritual, but this has not been proven in an empirical study within various situations. This paper explores the ritualistic features in young people's memorable tourism experiences. Using the narratives of 74 Chinese young people's most memorable tourism experiences, which are presented in autobiographical method, this paper constructs the symbolic structure of touristic rituals based on young people's unforgettable tourism experiences. This includes both the three‐journey structure and symbolic actions that place tourists in a liminal stage. It further builds the characteristics of touristic rituals based on tourism experiences as an important influencing factor. The study's results also show that the vital role of touristic rituals and a large market for tailor‐made “rite of passage” tourism programs in China can contribute to effective tourism marketing among this age group.