Commentary: Tourism research and social theory - expanding the focus

Abstract

This commentary aims to introduce the utility of social theory for tourism research. It summarizes the theoretical perspectives of post-modernism, structuralism and post-structuralism and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of applying these theories in tourism studies. The article concludes that when researchers guided by social theory stay engaged with empirical studies, they can expand the focus of tourism research. Furthermore, these theoretical approaches should not supplant traditional research methodologies, but should be employed to better understand the spaces and places of tourism.