Exploring the Role of Morality in Amish Tourism

Abstract

This thesis examines the implicit value judgments made by tourists and employees in Amish tourism in Lancaster County. This paper explores the implied moral judgments in the labels given to tourists and the popular perception of the unethical tourist as invasive and rude, and inauthentic tourist sites as dishonest. This thesis also discusses the concept of false back regions or staged authenticity, the importance of authenticity to tourists in Lancaster County, and their willingness to compromise. This project concludes by examining photography and the way the tourist gaze is controlled in Lancaster County, as well as how tourism recreates cultural distinctions by calling attention to perceived cultural differences between tourists and the Amish. Goffman’s front stage/back stage continuum theory, applied to tourism by Dean MacCannell, is restructured to provide a new theory with which to examine Amish tourism in Lancaster County.