Loss and travel: a review of literature and current understandings

Abstract

Loss is a universal human experience that every person encounters. In our life journey, loss may come in many forms including suffering the death of a loved one, living with chronic illness, disabilities, separation, being abused, unemployment, and there are many other losses. These changes signal the reality of significant losses, which are often viewed negatively, affecting an individual’s experiences and inclination to travel. Many scholars neglect that, for some, loss can prompt positive reflection of their own mortality, existence and purpose, which may reshape their travel experiences. This paper aims to critically review these issues within the tourism literature to ascertain how loss is conceptualized and understood in relation to its influence on travel.

Keywords:

• Loss and travel
• disability
• events
• life meaning