A Theoretical Perspective on the Decentring of the Human Subject through Virtual Reality: Toward Posthumanist Experiences in Tourism

Abstract

Conventional tourism has historically privileged mainly white, wealthy, heterosexual, able-bodied males, marginalising groups such as women, local communities, technology and animals. Posthumanism challenges this anthropocentrism by decentring humans and highlighting relationships with non-human life such as technology. Virtual reality (VR) exemplifies this interconnectedness, allowing users to engage as cyborgs or avatars and fostering novel interactions with non-human entities and digitally mediated environments. Drawing on a comparative case study and literature review, this study is among the first to investigate VR in relation to conventional tourism through a posthumanist lens. Findings indicate that VR enhances visibility and recognition for marginalised groups, yet tensions persist concerning substitution, racial representation, socio-economic inequality, the digital divide and ethical considerations.