Tourism and spaces of anonymity: An Israeli lesbian woman's travel experience

This study examines an Israeli lesbian woman's travel experience based on the analysis of her published diary. The comparison of her experience and attitudes towards various spaces (e.g. her apartment, open spaces near her home, and locations in which she is involved in tourist activity) suggests that her perception of the space as 'free from people she knows' allows her and her partner to benefit from anonymity, live a lesbian lifestyle and benefit from sense of existential authenticity. The only space in which she experiences this feeling and feels freedom of self-expression is in the accommodation used during a tourist experience. It is argued that Israeli culture and social norms play a key role in understanding the tourist experience and its associated meanings. The implications, including the utilization of 'real' diaries as a source of information, are discussed.