Conceptualising Challenging Experiences and Post-Travel Culture Involvement

When cultural differences are significant and contact is relatively brief, it can be difficult to find personal relevance in the cultures of others, let alone develop an enduring interest in the host cultures, which would continue after travel. This chapter addresses these cultural tourism issues by examining the relationship between the concepts of challenge and post-travel culture involvement, and their association with self-development. The conceptual framework proposed here draws on interconnected theories from acculturation, cognitive appraisal and positive psychology, as well as relevant literature on immersive, memorable, adventure and transformative tourist experiences. It concludes that the acculturation process models and the stress, appraisal and coping theory are the most helpful for explaining this underlying relationship and for providing a more nuanced understanding of challenge in the context of cultural tourism.