Imaginaries of Singapore's Botanic Gardens

Abstract

This chapter illuminates the formation of imaginaries about Singapore’s Botanic Gardens. YouTubers who showcase the Botanic Gardens in their videos participate in the meaning-making processes surrounding the site. The case study demonstrated how YouTube can empower local video-makers to articulate their ways of seeing the Botanic Gardens and participate in the construction of imaginaries about the site. The researched travel influencers circulated videos containing place images of the attractions and landmarks at the gardens. YouTube videos have increasingly shaped imaginaries about the plant conservatory. Singapore’s Botanic Gardens are examples of place-assemblages interlocked with other assemblages such as the expert systems producing guidebooks for the gardens. The case also shows that digital platforms can amplify neocolonial narratives that describe tourist attractions as objects of consumption and possession, and thereby pre-arrange neocolonial encounters between locals and visitors.

Citation

Ritter, C.S. (2024), "Imaginaries of Singapore's Botanic Gardens", Locating the Influencer: Place and Platform in Global Tourism, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 81-93. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80262-597-420241006