Academic research in tourism is relatively recent worldwide, beginning in the 1920s and maturing by the 1970s (Jafari, 1991). Carlos Monterrubio, a professor at the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico, notes that tourism research is a heterogeneous construction, given its diverse development in terms of approaches.
The most recurrent topics in recent tourism research include: methodology, development, impacts, organization and association, tourists, international tourism, planning, resorts, culture, marketing, motivation, and attractions. Less consistent topics include: conferences, industry, destinations, the Third World, employment, hotels, policy, demand, transportation, national tourism, the Caribbean, ethnic groups, and government.
Xiao and Smith, as cited by Monterrubio (2017), conclude that tourism research has been built under two meta-categories of thematic areas: the first is methodology and theoretical constructs, and the second is development and impacts.
These findings were reviewed from the three most recognized journals in tourism research worldwide: Annals of Tourism Research (ATR), Tourism Management (TM), and Journal of Travel Research (JTR).
Methodological trends in tourism research are focused on:
- 59% quantitative designs
- 19% qualitative
- 6% mixed methods
- 16% theoretical without such methodologies
Readers of this article may have cited leading tourism researchers such as John Crompton, P.J. Sheldon, Chris Ryan, Joseph O’Leary, and Ritchie, or perhaps authors like Maribel Osorio, Marcelino Castillo, M. Espinosa, D. Hiernaux, and Sergio Molina, to name a few.
As tourism has developed and consolidated as a field of study and research at various universities globally, the number of specialized journals has increased (Ritchie, 2007).
- Tourism Review is the oldest journal, dating back to 1946.
- Tourism Dimensions (India, 2014)
- Journal of Tourism Cities (UK, 2015)
- Dimensiones Turísticas (Mexico, 2017)
In the 1990s, the surge in new journals was so significant that the period was dubbed “The Explosion of New Journals.”
A relevant topic is “Tourism Research in Mexico,” which began in the 1930s, during a period of peace and stability following the Mexican Revolution.
Alfonso Jiménez Martínez and Sosa Ferreira (2006) refer to the government of Manuel Ávila Camacho (1940–1946), during which the Bank of Mexico conducted research on the effects of American tourism in Mexico. The results were presented at the Second Inter-American Tourism Congress held in the country.
The port of Acapulco serves as a key reference for studying tourist movement.
In the 1950s, some studies appeared, such as one by Lucas de Palacio (founder of the Association of Hotel Owners and Managers), titled El Turismo y su Evolución (Tourism and its Evolution) in 1952.
In 1967, the Department of Tourism of the Mexican Government published El Turismo como Medio de Comunicación Humana (Tourism as a Means of Human Communication), in which the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) played a significant role.
The 1968 Olympic Games spurred research on topics like motivation and advertising.
Aside from UNAM, other institutions that have promoted research in Mexico include:
- Autonomous University of the State of Mexico (the first to create a tourism degree in 1959),
- National Polytechnic Institute,
- University of Guadalajara,
- Autonomous University of Baja California,
- University of the Caribbean.
In 1969, the Fund for the Promotion of Tourism Infrastructure was created, followed by the National Tourism Development Fund (FONATUR) in 1974. These institutions generated interest in the financial sector to develop tourism research, particularly related to fostering private investment in the sector.
When Jafar Jafari’s work in tourism began to emerge, the social dimension of research gained strength, leading to the creation of two organizations in Mexico: the Inter-American Center for Tourism Training (CICATUR) under the Organization of American States and the International Center for Higher Studies in Tourism (CIEST), part of the then-World Tourism Organization (WTO).
After the merger of CICATUR and CIEST in the 1980s, the Center for Higher Studies in Tourism (CESTUR) was established, later becoming the Institute for Tourism Competitiveness (ICTUR). Today, it is the General Directorate for Tourism Professionalization and Competitiveness, which focuses on topics like tourist profiles, destination monitoring, and studies on the feasibility of cultural tourism in Mexico.
By the 1990s, environmental issues and market research became key concerns in Mexican tourism research.
On September 27, 2008, the Secretariat of Tourism, through CESTUR, established the Sectoral Fund for Research, Development, and Technological Innovation in Tourism. Its strategic research topics were: a) Review of indicators for evaluating the quality of service providers and tourist destinations, and their potential application in decision-making. b) Design of strategies and tools to strengthen human resources in the tourism sector. c) Evaluation and strategy development for regional tourism growth. d) Other topics based on the sector’s specific needs.
This fund had objectives that included:
- Supporting scientific and technological research,
- Assisting in technological innovation and development,
- Aiding in the formation of specialized human resources,
- Promoting scientific and technological dissemination,
- Creating and strengthening research groups or academic bodies, and
- Developing projects for the tourism sector.
Several research works resulted from this fund, including:
- 2012: A methodology for measuring the competitiveness of certified tourism service providers.
- 2014: A project on tourism regionalization in Mexico, aiming to develop a methodology to define tourism regions based on municipalities.
Scientific production resulting from nine calls for proposals can be consulted on the General Directorate for Professionalization and Tourism Competitiveness website.
The Applied Tourism Research Congress is a strategic space for the dissemination of scientific knowledge in Mexico. Held annually since 2001, the congress focuses on the discussion of applied research findings and technological developments across disciplines that influence tourism and its value chain.
To conclude:
- Tourism research in Mexico has grown significantly but remains limited.
- Stronger collaboration between academia, the sector, and government is needed to address researchable issues.
- There is a need for deeper analysis of specific research topics, as these evolve rapidly.
- A more thorough identification of needs is essential to contribute to knowledge-building.
Furthermore, promotion strategies should be designed to highlight Ecuador’s cultural diversity and foster intercultural exchange between tourists and residents, thus contributing to the preservation and promotion of the country’s cultural identity.
In summary, rural tourism in Ecuador has the potential to contribute significantly to the country’s sustainable development, provided that appropriate measures are implemented to ensure responsible management and harmonious integration with local communities and the natural and cultural environment.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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