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“The Spirit of Joyful Service”: From Hospitality to Domestic Service in British Travel Literature (Mallorca, 1907-2007)

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Abstract

This study proposes a comparative approach to the analysis of the cultural dialogue between British women travellers and the local society in Mallorca during the twentieth century on the region. Initially, it explores to what extent the relationship between visitors and islanders develops and transforms from a dynamic of encounter and hospitality first, into one of tourist or domestic service where local women are perceived as servants. Similarly, this paper analyses how this latter relationship oscillates from an initial contractual dependence towards a more intimate and confidential relationship, where the local woman mediates between the traveller and the local culture. Through the analysis of travel literature, this essay seeks on the other hand, to unravel the crystalised representations and perceptions that emerge around hospitality, tourist service and intercultural dialogue in this specific context, offering a unique perspective on the beginnings and evolution of tourism in Mallorca.


Open access | Peer reviewed

Submitted: Jan. 20, 2025 | Accepted: Feb. 24, 2025 | Published June 20, 2025 | Language: es

Keywords Literatura de viajes • Travel literature • Hospitalidad • Tourist service • Servicio turístico • Tourism • Hospitality • Turismo • Mallorca

Copyright © 2025 Eduard Moyà. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

Permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/Ri/2037-6588/2025/24/008