METHODOLOGY OF TOURISM RESEARCH

Discover the fascinating world of tourism research! This book is the key to understanding the ontological and epistemological foundations of this dynamically developing field. Learn about the historical and institutional development of tourism and delve into its theoretical aspects. Ideal reading for students, scientists and all tourism enthusiasts.

• In-depth analysis of the methodological foundations of tourism research
• Detailed discussion of ontological and epistemological aspects
• Historical and institutional development of tourism presented in a comprehensive manner
• Practical tips for researchers and students
• Theoretical foundations of tourism studies explained in an accessible way
• Analysis of various disciplines conducting tourism research
• Attempt to determine the methodological foundations of tourism research

This book is an attempt to determine the methodological foundations of tourism research, with particular emphasis on its ontological and epistemological aspects. The author assumes that there is a significant regression in the field of theoretical studies on this field. Therefore, the substantive scope of this book was proposed, which in its main part refers to the philosophical and methodological foundations of tourism research. It consisted of two main perspectives: ontological and epistemological. According to the author, they have the greatest impact on the cognitive situation of individual fields of knowledge.

In the first part of the work, fundamental questions are asked about the nature of tourist reality as a research subject. In the second part, a discussion is undertaken on the possibilities of knowing it, and thus obtaining (possibly complete and certain?) Knowledge about tourism in the sense of episteme. To put these issues in more detail, in the field of ontological foundations of tourism research, answers were primarily sought to questions about the subject of cognition, i.e.: what is and what is the deepest nature of tourist reality (as part of social reality), and in this context: what is tourism? What is its essence? What are its constitutive and consecutive features?

From an epistemological perspective, attention was focused on the possibilities (but also limitations) and directions of scientific cognition of tourism – in the subject area defined at the ontological level. In this context, an attempt was made to find answers to questions about objectivism and subjectivism of cognition, primarily in relation to the main ontological and epistemological positions in the social sciences, which are realism and relativism. Recognizing the fundamental differences between them, however, an attempt was made to find a compromise position in the form of a realistic-humanistic approach – as a methodological basis for tourism research. Epistemological considerations end with Chapter 4, which discusses the topic of the theoretical achievements of tourism studies.

The whole study is complemented by considerations of an institutional and organizational nature. They concern the evolution of tourism research in historical terms, also in the context of the contribution of various national schools to achievements in this field. Chapter 6 discusses the problem of (multi-? Inter-? Post-?) Disciplinaryity of academic tourism studies. The publication is a valuable source of knowledge for all those interested in tourism research and its theoretical and practical aspects.