For most of us, going on a trip is an exceptional event. It is an event that we look forward to, that we prepare for, that we dream about because we know that between family life, professional life, and simply the financial means, it will not happen again for a while. For these reasons, a trip is very often associated with a desire to see a maximum of things in a minimum of time. The result is sometimes a disappointment, that of not having taken the time to discover the visited region in depth. Experiential tourism, on the other hand, places the five senses and emotion at the center of the trip.
Experiential tourism is halfway between cultural tourism and educational tourism. It is about being at the heart of a humanly, culturally, and emotionally enriching experience, where authenticity is the keyword: living like the natives, participating in local life. At the end of his trip, the visitor leaves with more than just photo albums (which, let’s face it, once back home, are forgotten), but with memorable and priceless memories that will have shaken up his senses. It is a kind of tourism that allows them to become actors and no longer simple spectators of their travels. Thus, immersed in a culture that is not their own, travelers must overcome certain barriers of their comfort zone.
By taking an interest in the region’s businesses, promoting the local economy, or exchanging with the local population, they contribute to the creation of a form of green tourism in line with eco-responsible ideas.