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Abstract
Drawing on the critique of ideology elaborated by the Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek, in this conceptual paper we rethink responsible tourism. More specifically, in line with Žižek’s argument that ideology is closely linked to reality and not a dreamlike illusion, we reconceptualise the ideological character of responsible tourism. This ideological character, we propose, is fundamentally rooted in real global issues, and often inadvertently and implicitly sustains the mechanism of modern global capitalism. Although responsible tourism has been a powerful unifier among tourism stakeholders, we argue that its critical conceptual considerations have not yet been given sufficient robust reflection. Hence, in this conceptual paper, we rethink responsible tourism through the lens of ideology contributing to further knowledge about this topic. In doing so, we analyse two key policy documents: the Cape Town (Citation2002) and Kerala (Citation2008) Declarations from which the term of responsible tourism originated. Following Žižek’s critique of ideology, we aspire to shape more inclusive and effective sustainable and responsible development as advocated by the Sustainable Development Goals and responsible tourism stakeholders. Furthermore, the novel interjection of the Žižekian concept of ideology to the context of responsible tourism opens up new theoretical possibilities for critical tourism studies.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
1 See Goodwin (Citation2011, 201669) and Leslie (Citation2015).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Elisa Burrai
Dr Elisa Burrai, Senior Lecturer at the International Centre for Research in Events, Tourism and Hospitality, Leeds Beckett University, Macaulay Hall, Headingley Campus, Leeds (UK).
Dorina-Maria Buda
Dr Dorina-Maria Buda, Professor at the International Centre for Research in Events, Tourism and Hospitality, Leeds Beckett University, Macaulay Hall, Headingley Campus, Leeds (UK).
Davina Stanford
Dr Davina Stanford, Course Director at the International Centre for Research in Events, Tourism and Hospitality, Leeds Beckett University, Macaulay Hall, Headingley Campus, Leeds (UK).