Commodification of photogenic sites and rise of ‘selfie parks’ as tourist enclaves

Abstract

The spatial practices of tourists have been reshaped by the rise of smartphones and social media, prompting new geographies of tourism that respond to the visual imperatives of the digital era. This paper explores the emergence of ‘selfie parks’ as purpose-built, enclavic spaces designed to accommodate social media-induced tourists. Positioned at the intersection of visual culture and spatial production, selfie parks represent a novel form of place-making driven by the aesthetics and performativity of Instagrammability. Drawing on empirical fieldwork in Bali, this study examines how these photographic enclaves reconfigure tourism space by concentrating visual consumption into managed, commodified zones. Contrary to earlier critiques of tourist enclaves, which highlight issues such as socio-spatial segregation and high economic leakages, this research demonstrates how selfie parks can enable local communities to effectively manage the economic opportunity that social media-induced visitors may offer, as well as providing a safe and convenient atmosphere. Furthermore, it considers how spatial interventions such as controlled entry schemes can help mitigate the pressures of overtourism in destinations experiencing high demand from social media-induced tourists. This study is the first to consider selfie parks as tourism enclaves, while contributing to literature on visual production and management of tourists.