The Interplay of Mundane and Extraordinary Experiences in Short-Distance Maritime Mobility
(2025) SMMM40 20251Department of Service Studies
- Abstract
- This study explores how everyday ferry travel in transit spaces create experiences through the interplay of mundane and extraordinary interactions, focusing on the Øresundslinjen ferry between Helsingborg, Sweden, and Helsingør, Denmark. Drawing on the concepts of mundane tourism, the new mobilities paradigm, tourist gaze, and service-scape theories were used to examine the social, spatial, and emotional dimensions of ferry journeys. A qualitative multi-method approach was utilized, incorporating semi-structured interviews, non-participant observations, and visual ethnography to capture passengers’ perceptions, interactions, and sensory engagement. The findings reveal that ferry travel operates as more than a functional mode of transport,... (More)
- This study explores how everyday ferry travel in transit spaces create experiences through the interplay of mundane and extraordinary interactions, focusing on the Øresundslinjen ferry between Helsingborg, Sweden, and Helsingør, Denmark. Drawing on the concepts of mundane tourism, the new mobilities paradigm, tourist gaze, and service-scape theories were used to examine the social, spatial, and emotional dimensions of ferry journeys. A qualitative multi-method approach was utilized, incorporating semi-structured interviews, non-participant observations, and visual ethnography to capture passengers’ perceptions, interactions, and sensory engagement. The findings reveal that ferry travel operates as more than a functional mode of transport, serving as a hybrid space where commuting, leisure, and tourism intersect. Passengers experienced the ferry as a site of localized leisure, aesthetic appreciation, and social bonding, with transformative moments often emerging from routine travel contexts. The spatial design, atmospheric qualities, and service features of the ferry played a critical role in shaping these experiences, while temporal variations influenced social dynamics and passenger activities. This research contributes to the growing body of work on mundane tourism by offering empirical insights into how transit spaces act as meaningful and emotionally resonant places. It further provides practical implications for transport operators and urban planners seeking to enhance passenger experiences in similar mobility environments.
Keywords: Mundane tourism, transit spaces, ferry travel, tourist gaze, new mobilities paradigm, service-scape, sensory experiences, social interactions, everyday mobility, Øresundslinjen. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9213012
- author
- Aluthwala Hewage, Naveen Udana Sanjeewa and Makandura Weerakkutti Mudiyanselage, Vinuri Sathma Makandura LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SMMM40 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Mundane Tourism, Transit Spaces, Tourist Gaze, New Mobilities Paradigm, Service Scape, Sensory Experiences, Social Interactions, Everyday Mobility, Ferry Travel
- language
- English
- id
- 9213012
- date added to LUP
- 2025-09-23 09:12:41
- date last changed
- 2025-09-23 09:12:41
@misc{9213012,
abstract = {{This study explores how everyday ferry travel in transit spaces create experiences through the interplay of mundane and extraordinary interactions, focusing on the Øresundslinjen ferry between Helsingborg, Sweden, and Helsingør, Denmark. Drawing on the concepts of mundane tourism, the new mobilities paradigm, tourist gaze, and service-scape theories were used to examine the social, spatial, and emotional dimensions of ferry journeys. A qualitative multi-method approach was utilized, incorporating semi-structured interviews, non-participant observations, and visual ethnography to capture passengers’ perceptions, interactions, and sensory engagement. The findings reveal that ferry travel operates as more than a functional mode of transport, serving as a hybrid space where commuting, leisure, and tourism intersect. Passengers experienced the ferry as a site of localized leisure, aesthetic appreciation, and social bonding, with transformative moments often emerging from routine travel contexts. The spatial design, atmospheric qualities, and service features of the ferry played a critical role in shaping these experiences, while temporal variations influenced social dynamics and passenger activities. This research contributes to the growing body of work on mundane tourism by offering empirical insights into how transit spaces act as meaningful and emotionally resonant places. It further provides practical implications for transport operators and urban planners seeking to enhance passenger experiences in similar mobility environments.
Keywords: Mundane tourism, transit spaces, ferry travel, tourist gaze, new mobilities paradigm, service-scape, sensory experiences, social interactions, everyday mobility, Øresundslinjen.}},
author = {{Aluthwala Hewage, Naveen Udana Sanjeewa and Makandura Weerakkutti Mudiyanselage, Vinuri Sathma Makandura}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{The Interplay of Mundane and Extraordinary Experiences in Short-Distance Maritime Mobility}},
year = {{2025}},
}