From niche to general relevance?: Sustainable tourism, research and the role of tourism journals.

Abstract

This paper considers research
\nissues in sustainable tourism,
\nbased on the experience and
\nviews of the Editors of the
\njournal dedicated to the
\nsubject. It argues that
\nsustainable tourism is more
\nthan a niche area of study, and
\nthat researchers are now
\nbeginning to recognise and
\nexamine its full breadth and
\nrelevance. It reviews the roles
\nof academic journals in the
\nstudy of sustainable tourism.
\nIt notes the impact and
\nimplications for sustainable
\ntourism research and
\npublishing of the rapid growth
\nin tourism journals and
\npapers. It contends that
\nsustainable tourism's
\nrelevance would be better
\nrecognised if more research
\nadopted broader research
\nperspectives, with subject
\nmatter set in its socio-economic
\nand ecological contexts, and
\napproaches embedded in the
\nsocial and natural sciences.
\nThe field would gain from
\nmore use of flexible
\nperspectives, notably “postnormal”
\nscience and “postdisciplinary”
\nwork, and a
\nhybrid mix of approaches.