The use of metaphor in tourism discourse serves several cognitive functions, including:
Conceptualization: Metaphors help to conceptualize abstract concepts such as travel experiences, cultural heritage, and natural landscapes. For example, the metaphor of “tourism attraction is paradise” helps to conceptualize the ideal tourist destination as a place of beauty and tranquility.
Abstraction: Metaphors enable speakers or writers to abstract complex ideas into simple, concrete images that are easier for audiences to understand and remember. This is particularly useful in promoting tourist destinations that may have complex histories or cultural traditions.
Persuasion: The use of persuasive metaphors can convince tourists to visit certain destinations by appealing to their emotions and desires. For instance, the metaphor of “hidden gem” suggests that a lesser-known destination has unique qualities worth discovering.
Identity construction: Metaphors can also contribute to the formation of a destination’s identity by linking it with particular qualities or values. For example, the metaphor of “melting pot” suggests that a destination is diverse and welcoming to people from different cultures.
Branding: Tourism discourse often employs metaphors for branding purposes, creating a memorable image or slogan associated with a particular destination. This can include catchy phrases like “city of lights” for Paris or “land down under” for Australia.
In summary, metaphors serve multiple cognitive functions in tourism discourse by helping to conceptualize complex concepts, persuading audiences, constructing identities, and branding destinations in memorable ways.