Abstract
Geographical study of tourism has a long history and well-established relationship with human geography. The purpose of this paper is thus to discuss the role and nature of tourism geographies in relation to human geography, by focusing on connections/disconnections between the fields. The issue of responsibility, representing one of the latest major focal points in geographical tourism studies of tourism, is also overviewed in relation to sustainability. It is concluded that, although the field of tourism geographies has become versatile and closer to the conceptual and theoretical understandings of human geography, there are increasing processes challenging the academic production and circulation system of international tourism geographies, which scholars need to deal with.
Highlights
IntroductionThe scale of the global tourism industry is vast. It is estimated that tourism contributes approximately 9% to global production and employs more than 220 million people across the globe (Sofield 2003; Scheyvens 2011)
Instead ofcategorising past and current studies, this paper aims to focus on general connections and disconnections between tourism geographies and human geography
It involves ideas aiming to re-structure local-global relations in tourism development, e.g. in relation to benefit sharing, empowerment and equity. These aims have close connections with the original idea of sustainable development and emerging geographies of responsibility (Saarinen 2014), which both fall within critical discussions on tourism in human geography
Summary
The scale of the global tourism industry is vast. It is estimated that tourism contributes approximately 9% to global production and employs more than 220 million people across the globe (Sofield 2003; Scheyvens 2011). From that perspective the industry is seen as a potential tool by which to use and manage destination resources in environmentally, socio-culturally and economically sustainable ways These general dimensions are evident in past and present research on tourism geographies. Some of the fundamental questions in geographical tourism research have been focuses on such issues as: the factors making places attractive to potential visitors; the ways in which places become known to people as tourist destinations; the ways in which tourism creates impacts and changes places and the ways in which these changes and impacts can be managed and cultivated in a regionally beneficial and sustainable way. From a geographical point of view, tourism can be seen as a movement or mobility between origins, i.e. sending regions and destinations (Leiper 1979, 1990) This mobility involves various impacts and relations and experiences of the environment and of being a tourist (or a host) (Gordon & Goodall 2000). There will be a brief focus on issues of sustainability and responsibility, representing some of the latest major paradigms in tourism geographies
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
