In memory of Dr. Valene L. Smith

Abstract

Valene L. Smith is best known as the editor of the successful book Hosts and Guests: The Anthropology of Tourism. Her life was dedicated to the anthropological study of tourism. In this article commemorating her life, I look at her work, particularly from the Japanese context in which I developed my anthropological study of tourism. This year, 2024, marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of Hosts and Guests. A classic book like this will be read and updated by successive generations around the world.

Keywords:

• Valene Smith
• memory
• Hosts and Guests
• tourism
• anthropology
• Japan

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the late Valene L. Smith for inspiring me to develop my anthropology of tourism in Japan, and Mary Mostafanezhad and Joseph Cheer for inviting me to write this essay in memory of Valene.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shinji Yamashita

Shinji Yamashita is Professor Emeritus of Cultural Anthropology at the University of Tokyo, Japan. His research focuses on the analysis of cultural dynamics related to tourism and migration in the Asia-Pacific region.