Tourism theory: concepts, models and systems

• Grant number: 13/06143-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Books published abroad
• Start date: August 01, 2013
• End date: July 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Tourism
• Principal Investigator: Alexandre Panosso Netto
• Grantee: Alexandre Panosso Netto
• Host Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The study of tourism, compared to other sciences such as philosophy, history, chemistry and mathematics, for example, is recent. This is one of the reasons why many scholars and researchers from other fields criticize us by claiming that the research produced in tourism are superficial, with little scientific evidence and irrelevant. In part these critics have some degree of reason as we encounter books, theses and articles on tourism that are merely descriptive, adding little to the scientific field. In general, these studies lack a theoretical and conceptual foundation, besides presenting a deficiency in the analytical outcomes. Many academics in tourism get carried away by these critics, considering that there is not a body that supports sufficient theoretical study of the area. Fortunately, this is not true and can be noticed in the existing academic outputs, though these are often scattered and fragmented, even in the foreign literature. We seek, in this context, the rationale for the proposal of a work that brings together key systems, models and theoretical concepts of tourism and that explain them in a didactic and practical. This book is composed of 73 entries that were grouped into six parts, namely: 'Theories, systems and models', 'Concepts', 'Disciplines', 'The Tourist', 'Intermediation, distribution and travel' and 'tourism destinations'. The first part presents the models and systems proposed by various tourism theorists. The second tackles the fundamental concepts of tourism and related areas. The third presents theoretical aspects offered by the various disciplines that contribute to the understanding of tourism, including public policies, management and economics. The three following parts are grouped according to one of the main systems of tourism developed by Leiper. In the fourth part tourism aspects of the origin region are dealt with. The fifth discusses the components connecting the origin to the tourism destination, including distribution channels, travel patterns and transport modes. Finally, the sixth section deals with tourism destinations, encompassing aspects of their development, supply and tourist infrastructure and other phenomena highlighted as carrying capacity and seasonality. The acceptance of this book is such that it has been translated into Spanish (2012) by Editora Trillas. It is also available in the DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) system for blind and visually impaired people. (AU)