Random thoughts on tourism studies : a dialogue amongst five scholars (Ⅱ) chapter five–theoretical versus practical implications in tourism studies

Abstract

Part V of the dialogue focuses on theoretical and practical implications in tourism research. The practicality, or practical use of research to support the industry and to serve the state, is first discussed. In addition, the dialogue also stresses the importance of theoretical implications or theoretical breakthroughs in contemporary tourism studies. Issues that enable or otherwise prohibit such breakthroughs or innovations in tourism knowledge production are then reflected. These include factors such as particularity of China(tourism) problems, internationalization in education and research, as well as perspectives of indigenous knowledge. The discussion shed lights on the complexity of theory-practice relationships in tourism research.