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The landmarking of tourism
The purpose of this encyclopedia is to act as a
quick reference source or guide to the wide range
of basic definitions, concepts, themes, issues,
methods, perspectives and institutions embraced
by tourism in its disparate manifestations. The
volume is designed to represent its multidisciplinary
scope, nature, composition, and transformation;
to facilitate research, education, consultancy
and practical inquiries; and/or to act as a starting
point for both wide-ranging and specialised
explorations in this ubiquitous phenomenon, which
is now the world's largest industry. This reference
book, like those in its genre, as will be noted shortly,
has succeeded in meeting some of its goals but
remains unfulfilled in others.
The original aim at fulfilment, the beginning, is
one of the most problematic aspects of any new
project, especially an unprecedented one. So it was
with the development and production of this
Encyclopedia of Tourism, as it started its journey into
the landscape of knowledge, with no models to
choose from and no blue prints to follow: travelling
uncharted terrains, crossing unbridged passes,
falling into unmarked canyons, finding unattended
niches, and even discovering virgin lands and
meeting other fellow backpackers and explorers.
Almost every move ± situated between the starting
point of this searching journey and its finishing line
± suggests a long tale, to be merely summarised
here. But first should come the exploratory context
which gave rise to this academic expedition.
The scientification of tourism
As a field of study evolves toward maturity, new
Introduction
informed measures, which denote successive progression
and signal desired transition, are introduced
and pursued: towards promising goals which
potentially advance the body of knowledge to new
frontiers. An overview of such cumulative strides in
tourism would illustrate this unfolding scientification
journey in general and its coming of age. To
this point, mention of many developments would fit
the occasion. But only three are cited here, and all
are among those with which this writer is most
familiar, from their origins onward.
The scientification process, for the purpose of
this introduction, may begin with the 1960s, when
tourism eventually graduated from its economically-driven
phase �concerned solely with real or
perceived monetary returns). With this transformation,
the time had come to create new pathways
toward the inclusive picture of this knowledge area.
It seemed reasonable that, as the vista broadened,
the move would help uncover its hidden dimensions,
especially its sociocultural structure which
had remained buried and thus least understood
earlier on. At about this juncture, a new journal
saw its debut, with no commitments to the tourism
industry as such and to the already-surfaced and
well-polished economic pillars. The first issue of
Annals of Tourism Research:A Social Sciences Journal
appeared in 1973. With its take-off, another
augmenting academic gateway was burst open, a
cornerstone was installed, and suddenly a small yet
directed journey into the far-stretching landscape
was on its way.
To reach its scholarly purpose ± of being
`ultimately dedicated to developing theoretical
constructs . . . [in order] ...to expand frontiers of
knowledge in tourism' ± Annals continued with a
long and challenging expedition, moving along its