The many names of “Roots tourism”: An integrative review of the terminology

Abstract

The study provides an analysis of the inconsistencies in terminology in the literature on roots tourism. It explores the usage and relative popularity of 41 terms used to denote roots tourism. Based on the analysis of 203 definitions of the phenomenon, we developed a model of roots tourism and mapped the 41 terms on the two-dimensional matrix to provide a system for differentiating the meaning of the different terms. Furthermore, the model allows for identifying understudied types of roots tourism. Most importantly, the study provides directions for future terminology use around the phenomenon of roots tourism. The methodology employed in the present study can be used to integrate and systemize conflicting and overlapping terminologies in other fields.