Critical theories in tourism – a systematic literature review

Abstract

Critical approaches to tourism knowledge production and representation alongside critical approaches to tourism as a lived experience outside academic circles (its impacts on places, peoples and economies) are not new in tourism. However, propelled by a ‘critical turn’ and by an overall critique of positivist research, debates concerning the meanings and implications of ‘the critical’ in tourism have gained momentum and more visibility in the last fifteen years. As an attempt to organise and critically assess the growing body of knowledge on criticality, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of critical studies published in tourism journals, books and book chapters in four languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian) in the last 43 years (1977–2020). Four main aspects of criticality in tourism were assessed, namely the main critical approaches mobilized, the areas/topics of interest, authorship and the emancipatory outcomes pursued. The review shows that a) the word ‘critical’ in tourism is mobilised within a multiplicity of different and not clearly defined approaches, beliefs and terminologies alongside diverse understandings of criticality; b) a significant nexus exists between criticality and sustainability; c) Western universities plays a dominant role in propelling critical scholarship; and d) limited explanations are provided on how participatory and emancipatory practices are sought and achieved. Based on the outcomes of our review, critical research in tourism should not stop debating the meanings associated to the term ‘critical’, challenge traditional capitalist discourses of sustainability with alternative theories (such as regenerative tourism), consider postcolonial/decolonial perspectives, and provide more details on how emancipation and participation are supposed to be achieved.

摘要

旅游研究中知识生产和表征的批判性方法, 以及将旅游作为学术圈之外的生活体验的批判性方法(关注旅游业对地方、人民和经济的影响), 在旅游研究中并不新鲜。然而, 在“批判转向”和对实证研究的全面批评的推动下, 关于旅游中“批判性”研究的意义和启发的争辩在过去15年中方兴未艾, 吸引更多的关注。为了搜集和批判性地评估日益增长的批判性方面的知识, 我们对过去43年(1977–2020年)以四种语言(英语、西班牙语、葡萄牙语和意大利语)发表在旅游期刊、书籍和书籍章节中的批判性研究进行了文献计量学分析。评估了旅游批判性研究四个主要方面, 即使用的主要批判性取径、感兴趣的领域/话题、作者群体和所追求的解放性效果。研究发现：第一, 旅游批判性研究 中的“批判”一词是在多种不同且定义不明确的方法、信念和术语外加对批判性的不同理解中使用的；第二, 批判性性和可持续性之间存在着重要的联系;第三, 西方大学在推动批判性学术方面发挥着主导作用;第四, 对如何获得和实现参与和解放实践方面的解释有限。基于我们的综述结论, 旅游批判性研究不应停止对“批判性”一词相关含义的争辩, 应该用另类理论(如再生性旅游)挑战传统资本主义关于可持续性的论述, 思考后殖民与非殖民的多元视角, 并提供更多关于如何实现解放和参与的细节。

Keywords:

• Critical theory
• critical turn in tourism
• critical tourism studies
• hopeful tourism

关键词:

• 批判理论; 旅游研究的批判转向；批判性旅游研究；有希望的旅游业

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Paolo Mura

Paolo Mura is an associate professor in the College of Communication and Media Sciences at Zayed University, Adu Dhabi, UAE. His research focuses on tourist behaviour, gender, critical theories and qualitative approaches to research.

Sarah N. R. Wijesinghe

Sarah N.R. Wijesinghe is a postdoctoral fellow at the Faculty of Social Science & Leisure Management, Taylor’s University, Malaysia. Her research focuses on coloniality, neocoloniality, decolonisation, identity and representation, and critical theory.