A molecular treatment of successful destinations: revisiting methodological individualism

Abstract

With nanotechnology coming to the fore and molecular gastronomy entering the culinary arts, this paper proposes a molecular treatment of successful destinations. Yet it is a molecular metaphor that follows from methodological individualism as a methodological tenet. Post modern destination analysis has tended towards investigations at the micro-scale. Unlike the usual micro-macro dichotomy, that tends to be lop-sided, this molecular approach emphasizes the scalability of individual codified experiences to the global emergent properties of destinations. Computer simulations based on a spatial contagion model, suggests that successful destinations tend to be poised on the edge of chaos, maximizing molecular interchange and thus their ability to change and adapt. Informed by such findings the paper puts forward destination policy guidelines based on the consideration of two contrasting cases of heritage tourism: Venice and Singapore.