Evolution of Tourism Research in China after the Millennium: Changes in Research Themes, Methods, and Researchers

ABSTRACT

This study aims to examine the evolution of tourism research in China after the millennium in terms of research themes, methods/methodologies, and researcher profiles. Reviewing 2,078 research articles published in the leading Chinese tourism journal Tourism Tribune, the study identified a transition of focus from industry supply issues to market demand/consumer behavior issues in research themes; quantitative studies adopting positivism/post-positivism were increasing. Within a relatively young research community in age, female researchers seem to claim the majority in the next generation. Multiple-author collaborations and publishing also appear to be the norm of tourism research practices in China.

摘要

本研究致力于从研究主题、研究方法/方法论和研究者特征的角度审视2000年以来中国旅游研究的演化。通过回顾发表在《旅游学刊》这一中国旅游研究的领先期刊上的2078篇研究论文，本研究发现：(1) 在研究主题上，中国旅游研究的聚焦点经历了从产业供给议题向市场需求/消费者行为议题的转变；(2）基于实证主义/后实证主义范式的定量研究越来越多；(3) 在相对年轻的研究社群中，女性在下一代研究者中占多数；(4) 多作者合作和发表也是中国旅游研究实践的常态。

KEYWORDS:

• Tourism research
• research theme
• research method
• research community
• Tourism Tribune

关键词:

• 旅游研究
• 研究主题
• 研究方法
• 研究社群
• 《旅游学刊》

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under grants number 41500154 and 41571137, and the Tourism Youth Expert Training Program of the former China National Tourism Administration under grant number TYETP201542.

Notes on contributors

Songshan (Sam) Huang

Songshan (Sam) Huang, PhD, is a Professor of Tourism & Services Marketing, School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University. His research interests include tourist behavior, destination marketing, tour guiding, and various Chinese tourism and hospitality issues.

Ganghua Chen

Ganghua Chen, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Tourism Management in the School of Tourism Management, and a member of the Center for Tourism Planning and Research, Sun Yat-sen University. His research interests include tourist behavior, destination marketing, backpacker tourism, resort governance, and resort environment restorativeness.

Xianrong Luo

Xianrong Luo, PhD, is an Associate Researcher in the School of Tourism Management at South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China. Her research interests include backpacker tourism and pro-poor tourism.

Jigang Bao

Jigang Bao, PhD, is a Professor in the School of Tourism Management and Center for Tourism Planning and Research, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. His research interests cover tourism geography, tourism planning, tourism impact, and tourism policy.