Tourism geographies today

The year 2018 marks two decades of publishing Tourism Geographies. To celebrate this occasion, we have asked members of the Tourism Geographies Editorial Board, including emeritus members, to write short commentaries on any aspect of the geographic study of tourism that they think might be of interest to our readers. I have organized these contributions into general themes that will be published through 2018 (Volume 20) of the journal. This first set of commentaries is set under the theme of ‘Tourism Geographies Today’. This is not about the state of the journal, which is very healthy, but rather the contemporary role of the geographic study of tourism in and around the world. The contributors are distinguished scholars from around the world, including Deborah Che (Australia), David Crouch (UK), Sanette Ferriera (South Africa), Carolin Funck (Japan), Alison Gill (Canada), Dieter Müller (Sweden), Piotr Niewiadomski (UK), Theano Terkenli (Greece) and Dallen Timothy (USA). Some of these scholars provide insights into the status of tourism geography study and research in their home countries or regions, while others look at the contemporary role of tourism geography in the broader context of the disciplines of geography and tourism studies.

These commentaries are not intended to be comprehensive reviews of the literature, but rather personal observations that provide insight into both the field of tourism geography and the personality and perspective of some of those who identify with that field of study. While some significant challenges are raised by the contributors to this special anniversary project, all the authors have a positive opinion on the significant benefits of a geographical perspective on tourism phenomena. This bodes well for the future of a research subject that we have come to hold dearly in our professional lives. I trust that readers will also gain some of this sense of enthusiasm through these commentaries. I also issue and invitation to tourism geographers (and like-minded scholars) who are not members of the journal's editorial board, to feel free to contact me if you would like to make similar contributions to future issues of the journal. ‘Happy 20 Years’ to everyone who has contributed to the past and continuing success of Tourism Geographies!