دانلود رایگان مقاله سیستم دانش گردشگری

Abstract

This conceptual study addresses the significant need for every mature field of knowledge to understand itself. It builds upon previous studies of the epistemology and ontology of tourism by critiquing, synthesising, discarding, re-ordering and adding material. Its contribution is an original reconceptualisation of the structure, systems, processes and outcomes that define the field of tourism. These are explained by the creation of a model and detailed analysis that examines knowledge space, the knowledge force-field, knowledge networks, four key domains in knowledge creation and their interrelationships. Finally the model is used to examine some of the key challenges and consequences that the knowledge system reveals for tourism and its research.

Conclusion

First and foremost the contribution of this article is a reconceptualised tourism knowledge system based on critique, synthesis, revision and extension of previous works. This system extends our understanding of epistemology, ontology, axiology, power, networks and knowledge management (Cooper, 2015). To paraphrase Law and Urry (2004) it demonstrates how tourism research is embedded in, produced by, and productive of the social. The system is more comprehensive than previous works while retaining a sense of clarity, simplicity and economy of expression. It replaces the terms Modes 1, 2 and 3 with the more meaningful descriptive terms of Disciplinary Knowledge, Problem-centred knowledge and Value-based Knowledge. However the liberal use of dotted lines underlines a fluidity in the model and the underlying messiness of the situation it seeks to describe. For example we note big seepages between the arts, humanities and social sciences, Problem-centred Knowledge and Values-based Knowledge. We further note that in practice the system will often work in a non-linear way especially when faced with the challenges and ‘wicked problems’ of a ‘super-complex’ world (Barnett, 2000). Second, it finds that tourism is not just a multi-disciplinary field of enquiry but a multiextra-disciplinary one too. It identifies in circles 2 and 3 areas that were previously overlooked or under-developed and analyses their different epistemologies. The business and social science of tourism dominate our knowledge production. Overlooked areas include the disciplinary ones of sciences, humanities and arts as well as the extra-disciplinary ones of Value-based Knowledge, indigenous knowledge, Web 2.0, tacit knowledge and zone Y where the latter may combine. As a result means, theory, academic and explicit receive more attention than ends, practice, indigenous and tacit.