Critical Approaches in Tourism and Hospitality

Focus and Themes of Special Interest Group

The focus is the emerging shift in thought in tourism and hospitality studies that emphasises interpretive, alternative and critical modes of enquiry. By a ‘critical approach’, we take a broad perspective which includes all enquiry concerned with deconstructing the cultural politics of tourism and hospitality research, and the relation of this research to its wider political, economic, cultural and social contexts. We take the view that there is no single critical approach to tourism and hospitality research, but rather includes under its umbrella a range of social-science perspectives and paradigms, such as postmodernism, poststructuralism, critical theory, critical realism, feminist/gender theory, race studies, and also methodologies like qualitative research, interpretivism, ethnography, phenomenology, feminist research, memory-work, indigenist research and critical discourse analysis.

Key Outcomes for Members

formal and informal networking with ‘likeminded’ colleagues in Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere;
mentoring, contact and support for Early Career Researchers from more senior academics using critical approaches/methodologies;
publishing and joint research opportunities;
an email network/contact base to aid communication among members; and
attendance/participation at annual symposium and annual CAUTHE conference workshop.

Key Activities for 2009/2010

The CATH SIG continues to provide its members with a legitimate space to promote and discuss the role of tourism and hospitality research/education through critical and alternative voices, texts and methodologies. Currently, the CATH SIG has 64 members on its email list.

Activities in 2010

CAUTHE Special Interest Group Workshop
CAUTHE Conference
8-11 February 2010
Hobart, Tasmania

The workshop centred on the theme of ‘Critical Approaches in Teaching Tourism and Hospitality’, presentation by Dr Jennie Small.

CATH/Critical related paper stream at the CAUTHE 2010 conference

These sessions were interesting, and attracted good attendance. Important for us to ensure that SIGs are represented in the paper themes as well as in the SIG meetings (which sit separate to the conference).

Proposed Activities

A full-day symposium is proposed for November 2010 in the Gold Coast/Byron Bay area, which will centre on a discussion of targeted draft papers for a potential journal special issue (in discussions with Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management; there is also the new Hospitality and Society journal, edited by three of our SIG members: Conrad Lashley, Paul Lynch and Alison McIntosh).

The CATH SIG is proposing to access SIG support funds to sponsor a speaker at either the CAUTHE 2011 or 2012 conference, or the November symposium.

Past activities

2nd Critical Tourism Symposium
Friday 28 August 2009
University of Technology, Sydney
9.30 to 5.00pm

3rd International Critical Tourism Studies (CTS) Conference
21 June - 24 June 2009
Zadar, Croatia

CAUTHE Special Interest Group Workshop
CAUTHE Conference
10 - 13 February 2009
Fremantle, WA

Critical Tourism Symposium
Friday 14 November 2008
Graduate School of Business, Haymarket Campus
University of Technology, Sydney

Critical Tourism and Hospitality Symposia, Australia

1. Critical Tourism and Hospitality Symposia - Background Link

Wilson, Harris and Small 2008, Furthering Critical Approaches in Tourism and Hospitality Studies, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 15, 15-18. Link

2. 2009 Critical Tourism Downunder Conference Link

Wearing and Wearing 2009, Post Colonial Development And Tourism: Hybridity, Ethics and the Subjecting Tourist. This document relates to 2006 Critical Tourism Downunder Conference, page 8 (abstract by Wearing and Wearing) Link

3. 2006 Critical Tourism Downunder Conference Link

Edelheim, Johan. R 2006, First-Person Phenomenological Tourist Experiences. This document relates to 2006 Critical Tourism Downunder Conference, page 4 (abstract by Edelheim) Link

SIG Co-ordinators

Dr Erica Wilson erica.wilson@scu.edu.au
Dr Jennie Small Jennie.Small@uts.edu.au
Dr Candice Harris candice.harris@aut.ac.nz