Adding researchers' behaviour to the research agenda: bridging the science–policy gap in sustainable tourism mobility

Abstract

This opinion piece addresses issues surrounding the role of researchers’ behaviour in bridging the science–policy gap in sustainable tourism mobility. Currently, the research agenda on bridging this gap encompasses the development of fuller understanding of the determinants of tourist behaviours, and only a partial understanding of the behaviour of policy-makers and industry. That latter area needs research to identify how those key actors can be encouraged towards developing sustainable tourism mobility. This paper argues that key determinants of researchers' behaviour need to be added to that research agenda. It discusses seven tensions and structures hindering researchers exploring how to mobilise and engage with other industry and policy-makers, including dangers related to the politicisation of science, balancing objectivity and engagement, and the consequences of the current publication culture that characterises the academic community. The discussion concludes with a call for action to researchers to address these tensions and structures. It suggests four ways forward, including informed and skilled engagement with the quality mass media, using proven methods of academic–industry cooperation, workshops to help editors and reviewers to better understand practice-linked, values-driven research issues and the creation of a policy-makers' industry and researchers' action group to encourage joint projects.

添加研究人员行为的研究议程：弥合在可持续旅游业的流动性中科学与政策的空缺

这篇评论性文章解决了在可持续旅游业的流动性中围绕着研究人员行为对于弥合科学与政策空缺的问题。目前，研究议程了包括对于旅游行为决定因素的更全面的了解的发展，以及对政策制定者和行业行为的部分了解。后一领域需要通过研究以确定如何鼓励这些关键的参与者以发展旅游业的可持续机动性。本文认为，研究人员行为的关键因素需要被添加到该研究议程中。它讨论了七种阻碍研究人员探索如何动员和与其他行业和政策制定者建立友好关系，包括涉及到科学政治化的危险，平衡客观性和参与度，以及表征学术界当前出版物文化的后果的紧张关系和结构。讨论最后呼吁研究人员采取行动，解决这些紧张关系和结构。这表明之前的四种方式，包括知情和熟练的配合与大众媒介，利用学术- 产业合作的行之有效的方法，筹备研讨会以帮助编辑和审稿人更好地了解实践的联系，价值驱动的研究问题，并建立一个政策决策者、工业和研究人员的行动小组，以鼓励合作项目。

Keywords:

• sustainable tourism mobility
• science–policy gap
• research agenda
• researchers' behaviour

关键词:

• 可持续旅游业的流动性;科学与政策之间的空缺;研究议程;研究人员的行为

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Frans Melissen

Frans Melissen is a professor of sustainable business models at the Academy of Hotel Management, NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands.

Ko Koens

Ko Koens is a lecturer and researcher at the Academy of Hotel Management, NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands, and sustainability task force coordinator of the Centre of Expertise Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality.