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The Spark and a Sense of Wonder (Late)
We are delighted to welcome author Terry Stevens to the Campfire for a session on the tourist experience.
Terry’s most recent book, The Spark and a Sense of Wonder – quoting the WXO! – is a guide for creating and enjoying inspirational tourist experiences. He will expand on his research, talking about the importance of psychogeography to the tourist experience and identifying great examples of best practice.
Terry on The Spark and a Sense of Wonder
“In December 1970, the former Editor of Fortune, Alvin Toffler, published Future Shock. His chapter entitled The Experience Makers provides an explosive, brilliant, picture of how society will consume culture and leisure experiences in the new millennium. It is astonishingly accurate in its predictions. For example, he states that ‘simulated and non-simulated experiences will be combined in ways that will sharply challenge man’s grasp of reality as we move towards interactive films….. If you can’t serve it up real, find a vicarious substitute.’
“This body of work is enlightening and a must read for all of us working in the tourism and entertainment industries.
“Toffler’s vision is extraordinarily accurate. His predictions about the dominance of virtual reality and technology in our lives is countered with a desire to see the new technology-driven experiential world balanced with real, authentic, experiences.
“With the publication of The Spark & a Sense of Wonder in July 2025, my co-author (Dr Alan Sandry) and I demonstrate how to create and enjoy great tourist experiences. We set out the importance of psychogeography in this process, we celebrate change-makers, we identify 20 great examples of best practice and we nominate 18 people to form the world’s first ever Hall of Fame for Great Experience Creators.”
To read more about The Spark and a Sense of Wonder, visit https://www.tourism-futures.com.
About Terry
Professor Terry Stevens is an award-winning international tourism consultant who has been lucky to have worked with creators in 55 countries. He is continually in awe of the creativity, passion and wisdom of these alchemists who are able to inspire, amaze and thrill those who visit their communities and engage with their storytelling. His own memorable experiences include floating with local boatmen down the Dunajec River in Slovakia on hand-made wooden rafts, an impromptu concert by Slovenian favourite musician Andrej Šifer in a wine cellar near Ljubljana and a behind-the-scenes tour at Barcelona’s Camp Nou with his five grandsons, led by Museum Director Jordi Penas Babot.
Originally from East Coker in Somerset, his book about the unique heritage of Coker Canvas, Bucked in the Yarn, has been awarded the prestigious Alan Ball Prize as the 2024 local history book of the year.
How to watch this Campfire:
- Link to sign up for this Campfire (WXO members only)
- To join the WXO, please head to our Application page
- The WXO is a global home for the leaders, shapers and doers in the Experience Economy
- As a member, you’ll get live access to Campfires like this one plus unlock an on demand library of over 100 Campfire recordings
Timings
Campfire #2 is suitable for those in the US or Europe, but everyone is welcome! Here’s when we kick off in your time zone:
London: 17:55 – 19:25
Paris: 18:55 – 20:25
Los Angeles: 09:55 – 11:25
Santa Fe: 10:55 – 12:25
Chicago: 11:55 – 13:25
New York: 12:55 – 14:25
São Paulo, Santiago & Buenos Aires: 13:55 – 15:25