Advancing methodological diversity in critical tourism, leisure and hospitality research: a thorough analysis in the African context

ABSTRACT

While the African context provides a unique environment for critical tourism, leisure and hospitality research, it is still understudied by academia, mostly due to the small academic community and the high difficulty in obtaining data. This article explores and showcases the methodological diversity in critical tourism, leisure and hospitality studies in “understudied” contexts such as Africa. The results reveal the issue of lack of methodological diversity and innovations to promote critical and interpretive approaches to tourism and hospitality research. This would inspire local researchers to conduct more critical studies on local issues in tourism and hospitality and their complexities in relation to global ramifications.

KEYWORDS:

• critical hospitality research
• critical studies
• interpretive approaches
• qualitative research