Mobilizing Tourism: A Post-disciplinary Critique

Tourism has been the subject of considerable academic attention over the last three decades. Recently, there have been notable criticisms over the nature of tourism research and an alleged lack of theorization. Published exchanges have also focused on the contested disciplinary status of tourism. In this paper, we revisit these debates and consider them in light of increasing calls for post-disciplinary modes of investigation. In particular, we emphasize the need to understand tourism as just one form of human movement in a wider spectrum of mobilities. The consequences of pursuing a post-disciplinary approach are discussed. If studies of tourism are determined to reflect contemporary conditions, they should move away from traditional inter- and multi-disciplinary approaches to more flexible forms of knowledge production.