The hospitality in the social network Couchsurfing: Crossing the virtual threshold in Jaguarão, in the extreme south of Brazil

Abstract This article addresses a social practice mediated by a virtual social network of travelers called Couchsurfing. Translated as "sofa surfing", this practice is known for the free hosting offer, worldwide, enabling online and offline interaction between registered individuals, as well as promoting the exchange of hospitality, in which host becomes a guest in other travel situations and vice versa. In this research, the hosts and guests of the municipality of Jaguarão, located in the extreme south of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil, were investigated. The objectives of the article are to identify and discuss the main interests and motivations for the network and Couchsurfing trips among Jaguarian hosts and guests, as well as to understand the system of exchange between guests and hosts inspired by the studies of hospitality based on the Theory of Gift , by Marcel Mauss. The research had a qualitative approach and approached the etnographic method. The methodological course included a bibliographical study and a cyberspace field research, with semi-structured interviews and observations. The exchanges take place online and offline, in different prisms. The research presents new challenges for tourism, leisure and hospitality studies in the context of emerging social practices, such as Couchsurfing.摘要 本研究聚焦于由旅行者虚拟社交网络「沙发冲浪（Couchsurfing）」所介导的社会实践。该实践以全球范围内的免费留宿服务为核心特色，为注册用户搭建线上与线下互动的桥梁，同时推动好客文化的互惠交换——即东道主在其他旅行场景中可转为访客，访客亦可成为东道主。本研究以巴西南部极南端南里奥格兰德州（Rio Grande do Sul，简称RS）雅瓜龙市的沙发冲浪东道主与访客为调查对象，旨在识别并探讨雅瓜龙市沙发冲浪参与者使用该平台及参与旅行的核心兴趣与动机，并基于马塞尔·莫斯（Marcel Mauss）的礼物理论（Theory of Gift）所构建的好客研究框架，剖析东道主与访客间的交换体系。本研究采用质性研究路径，运用民族志研究法，研究流程涵盖文献研究与网络空间田野调查，辅以半结构化访谈与观察法。沙发冲浪的交换行为同时存在于线上与线下场景，呈现多维度的表现形式。本研究为沙发冲浪这类新兴社会实践背景下的旅游、休闲与好客研究领域带来了新的挑战。