Unveiling the leisure essence of mindful tourism: A hermeneutic phenomenology approach to Generation Z visitor experience in Tahura Bandung

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17509/jithor.v8i2.90217

Keywords:

Hermeneutic Phenomenological, Mindful Tourism, Leisure Time, Gen-Z Visitors, Tahura Bandung

Abstract

This study explores the travel experiences of Generation Z within the context of mindful tourism. Using a qualitative method with a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, the research aims to deeply understand how Gen Z spends their leisure time through reflective and conscious forms of tourism. Ten informants aged 18–27 were interviewed to uncover the meanings, feelings, situations, emotions, and intentions underlying their travel activities. The hermeneutic approach enables the researcher to view tourism experiences more openly and holistically, allowing the perceptual structure of each individual to be identified in a comprehensive manner.The findings indicate that Gen Z travelers seek meaningful and mindful tourism experiences, particularly during their visits to Tahura. They use these journeys to restore their life energy, reconnect with nature, and find tranquility amidst their fast-paced routines and the overwhelming flow of information from social media. Hermeneutic phenomenology helps frame tourism not merely as an activity, but as an emotional and situational process filled with deeper significance. The implications of this study are expected to reach a wider range of travelers and offer recommendations for various stakeholders to respond to emerging social phenomena more effectively and thoughtfully.

References

Agustina, N. K. W., & Astari, M. D. Y. (2022). Generation Z travel behaviour and changes in travel microtrends. ASEAN Journal on Hospitality and Tourism, 20(3), 65–76. https://doi.org/10.5614/ajht.2022.20.3.05

Alfurizqi, S. M. P., & Aji, G., G. (2025). Motif wisatawan pengguna jasa open trip travel (Studi fenomenologi pada generasi Z urban). The Commercium, 9(3), 480–487. https://doi.org/10.26740/tc.v9i3.72072

Fancourt, D., Aughterson, H., Finn, S., Walker, E., Steptoe, A. (2021). How leisure activities affect health: A narrative review and multi-level theoretical framework of mechanisms of action. Lancet Psychiatry, 562. National Library of Medicine. Doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30384-9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7613155/

Iacob, V., de Jesus, S. N., & Carmo, C. (2024). An overview of mindfulness theories applied to tourism: systematic review update and bibliometric analysis. Quality & Quantity, 58(3), 2213-2235. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-023-01736-2

Iso-Ahola, S. E., Baumeister, R., F. (2023). Leisure as meaningful attachment: Motivation and subjective experience. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1074649. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1074649

Kusumah, A. H. G. (2023). Understanding group dynamics and typology of youth travelers: A comprehensive study on travel preferences and roles at destination. Journal of Indonesian Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation, 6(1), 121-132. https://doi.org/10.17509/jithor.v6i1.57537

Kovačić, S., Mărgărint, M. C., Ionce, R., & Miljković, Đ. (2020). What are the factors affecting tourist behavior based on the perception of risk? Romanian and Serbian tourists’ perspective in the aftermath of the recent floods and wildfires in Greece. Sustainability, 12(16), 6310. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12166310

Kusumaningrum, H., Kusumawati, P., Tyas, D. W., & Fitriana, F. (2024). The meaning of giving food souvenirs: From the perspective of generation Z immigrants in Yogyakarta City. Journal of Indonesian Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation, 7(2), 111-124. https://doi.org/10.17509/jithor.v7i2.70868

Kusumawati, P., Tyas, D. W., Kusumaningrum, H. (2021). Pergeseran selera Gen Z dan eksistensi angkringan kopi joss sebagai ikon gastronomi Kota Yogyakarta studi kasus: Masa normal baru 2020. Kapita Selekta Pariwisata di Era Adaptasi Kebiasaan Baru, 296-310. STIPRAM PRESS. https://repository.stipram.ac.id/701/

Kleiber, D. A. (2020). Toward an applied social psychology of leisure. Journal of Leisure Research, 51(5), 618–625. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2020.1807843

Mananiso, N. E. (2015). The perceptions of nurses regarding communication with nurse managers in a public hospital in Westrand in Gauteng Province. (Order No. 32023118). Available from ProQuest One Academic. (3224575966). Retrieved from https://login.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/perceptions-nurses-regarding-communication-with/docview/3224575966/se-2

McCaffrey, G., Wilson, E., Jonatansdottir, S., Zimmer, L., Zimmer, P., Graham, I., Snadden, D., & MacLeod, M. (2022). But is It hermeneutic enough?: Reading for methodological salience in a scoping review of hermeneutics and implementation science. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 21. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069211070408

Różycki, P., & Korbiel, K. (2022). The theoretical concept of tourist typology in the interdisciplinary structure of tourism. Sport and Tourism Central European Journal, 5(3), 141-157. https://doi.org/10.16926/sit.2022.03.07

Sirait, D. C., Febryanti, I. S., & Agustina, N. K. W. (2025). Pariwisata alam dan kesehatan mental generasi Z di Bali: Kajian kualitatif mengenai dampak media sosial, harapan dan perbedaan budaya. Guna Sewaka, 5(1), 39–51. https://doi.org/10.53977/jgs.v5i1.2397

Shao, X., & Lin, W. (2021). A study on how the five senses are affected when tourists experience towns with forest characteristics: An empirical analysis based on the data of Fujian, Guangdong and Sichuan in China. Sustainability, 13(15), 8283. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158283

Schmidt, S. (2024). "16: Creativity: An evolving critical debate". In contemporary economic geographies. Bristol, UK: Bristol University Press. Retrieved Nov 20, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.51952/9781529220599.ch016

Stankov, U., & Filimonau, V. (2021). Here and now – the role of mindfulness in post-pandemic tourism. Tourism Geographies, 25(1), 374–389. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2021.2021978

Sugiarto, Y. (2024). Exploring generation Z hospitality students' perceptions of hotel information systems using the technological acceptance model. Journal of Indonesian Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation, 7(1), 83-98. https://doi.org/10.17509/jithor.v7i1.69070

Van Manen, M. (2023). Phenomenology of Practice: Meaning-giving methods in phenomenological research and writing (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003228073

Wijaya, V. R., Warouw, G. I., & Thio, S. (2019). Perbedaan customer service experience pada generasi Y dan generasi Z dalam melakukan pemesanan online food delivery melalui aplikasi GO-FOOD. Journal of Indonesian Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation, 2(2), 154–164. https://doi.org/10.17509/jithor.v2i2.20982

Downloads

Published

2025-10-30

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): October

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Widyastuti, Nadhia Maesari

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.