Flow Experience on Bus-Based Tours

Author : Gokce Yuksek, Ozgur Koyun

Abstract :This study aims to explore the flow experiences of tourists participating in fully bus-based tours, with a specific focus on package tours organized in the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. While bus travel is often perceived as a passive mode of transportation, this research approaches the bus not merely as a means of transit, but as an immersive experience platform where flow states—defined by deep focus, altered time perception, and intrinsic enjoyment—can emerge. Grounded in Csikszentmihalyi’s (1990) flow theory, the study investigates how tourists engage emotionally, cognitively, and socially throughout long-distance journeys within a structured tour setting. Unlike conventional leisure or adventure tourism studies, this research highlights the often-overlooked experiential potential of coach travel. Through semi-structured interviews conducted with participants from various demographic backgrounds, the study examines the specific conditions that enable or inhibit flow, including guide narratives, landscape immersion, cultural storytelling, interpersonal interactions, musical elements, and the physical design of the bus. Particular attention is given to how the Eastern Black Sea’s rugged geography, local driving practices, and sensory-rich environments contribute to a sense of engagement and meaning among travelers. Thematic analysis is employed to identify key patterns in participants’ flow-related experiences, such as the merging of action and awareness, temporal disconnection, emotional restoration, and cognitive stimulation. These themes are examined in consideration of both hedonic and eudaimonic well-being indicators. By revealing how structured bus tours can support psychological flow and contribute to tourists’ well being, the study challenges traditional assumptions that bus travel is inherently superficial or isolating. The findings are expected to provide practical insights for tour operators and destination managers on how to redesign bus-based tours as emotionally resonant and meaningful travel experiences. This research contributes to the growing literature on mobility and well-being in tourism by reframing the role of transportation from logistical infrastructure to affective experience space

Keywords :Flow experience, bus, transportation, highway, package tour.

Conference Name :International Conference on Knowledge Management in Tourism and Hospitality (ICKMTH - 25)

Conference Place Amsterdam , Netherlands

Conference Date 11th Sep 2025