Edison Rubén Molina Velásquez (Ecuador)
I. SUMMARY
In Latin America, distinguishing between touristologist and tourismologist is essential for shaping tourism professionals. The touristologist focuses on traveler behavior, motivations, and experiences, linking to fields such as psychology and marketing. In contrast, the tourismologist studies tourism as a whole, integrating economic, social, and territorial aspects, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and governance. Both approaches are complementary. Post-pandemic tourism planning demands hybrid models, inclusion, technological innovation, and territorial management. This debate is not merely terminological—it is strategic for redefining academic profiles and enhancing sustainable development in regional tourism destinations.
II. DEVELOPMENT
Within the academic and professional debate on tourism in Latin America, it is essential to differentiate the concepts of touristologist and tourismologist, as a proper understanding guides the training of future sector professionals. This distinction helps clearly define the scope of the field, areas of specialization, and necessary competencies for contributing to sustainable tourism development.
The difference between the two terms has been a topic of discussion in academia and professional practice. Although both refer to tourism specialists, their approaches vary depending on context, academic tradition, and territorial demands.
Touristologist: The Study of the Tourist
The term touristologist focuses on analyzing the tourist as the subject of study. This includes behavior, motivations, expectations, and experiences—seeking to understand how tourists interact with destinations and how consumption patterns evolve. In the post-pandemic context, tourism preferences are shifting toward safety, authenticity, and less overcrowding (Orden-Mejía et al., 2022).
Arguments Supporting the Term “Touristologist”
- Based on the root “tourist”, it emphasizes analyzing the individual and their interaction with destinations.
- Aligned with disciplines such as tourism psychology and marketing, where the tourist is the central object of study.
- In countries like Mexico and Argentina, the term is promoted for highlighting the human component and individual travel experience.
- It is useful in understanding current trends such as experiential and niche tourism, where product design relies on in-depth knowledge of the traveler.
Tourismologist: The Study of Tourism as a Phenomenon
The tourismologist focuses on studying tourism as a social, economic, environmental, and cultural phenomenon. This includes not only tourists but also the tourism industry, host communities, environmental impacts, and public policy. In this sense, governance becomes key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (Álvarez, 2024).
Arguments Supporting the Term “Tourismologist”
- Derived from “tourism”, allowing systemic analysis of the overall phenomenon.
- Comparable to terms like sociologist, anthropologist, or geographer—experts on complex, multidimensional phenomena.
- In countries such as Brazil and Spain, the term “turismólogo” is widely accepted in academia and legislation and is included in official occupational profiles.
- Promoted by university tourism programs aimed at professionalizing the sector and training experts in territorial management, planning, and sustainability.
- At the Central University of Ecuador, the Tourism program within the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences addresses tourism from the perspective of territorial sustainable development, with strong emphasis on rural dynamics involving agriculture and livestock, value chains, and territorial responsibility.
Table 1. Key Differences and Academic Positions
| Characteristic | Touristologist | Tourismologist |
|---|---|---|
| Object of Study | The tourist and their behavior | Tourism as a global phenomenon |
| Approach | Psychological, experiential, marketing | Social, economic, environmental, political |
| Disciplinary Links | Psychology, marketing, consumer sociology | Economics, geography, public policy, territorial development |
Source: Author’s own elaboration.
The tourismologist takes a more holistic view, while the touristologist focuses on the traveler’s perspective. Both can be complementary depending on the specialization area and level of analysis.
Future Directions for Planning, Management, and Tourism Development Models
In today’s context—marked by the post-pandemic era, digitalization, climate change, and increasing demand for inclusion and sustainability—traditional tourism development models fall short. Tourism planning and management in Latin America must focus on:
- Integrated territorial management: Viewing tourism as part of the territorial system involving public, private, and community actors.
- Sustainability and resilience: Prioritizing environmental conservation, impact mitigation, and climate adaptation. Integration of social, environmental, and economic dimensions is increasingly seen as essential in Latin American destinations (Sustainability Transformations in Tourism Destinations, 2025).
- Innovation and digitalization: Incorporating technology for destination management, smart marketing, and improved visitor experiences. Tourism is undergoing a major digital transformation, with smart destinations and data use becoming key to competitiveness (Moreno-Izquierdo et al., 2022).
- Community-based and inclusive tourism: Strengthening local participation and equitable benefit distribution. Modern community tourism emphasizes co-creation of visions among destination stakeholders.
- Hybrid models: Combining the touristologist’s visitor-centered approach with the tourismologist’s focus on governance and territory to achieve balanced development.
This debate is vital for tourism education in the region, as it helps redefine professional profiles in response to the needs of destinations and local communities.
Conclusions
While both touristologist and tourismologist refer to tourism specialists, their main difference lies in the analytical scope:
- The touristologist studies the traveler, their motivations, and experiences.
- The tourismologist analyzes tourism as a whole, incorporating economic, social, environmental, and political aspects.
Today, tourism planning and management require professionals with a multidisciplinary perspective, capable of integrating both approaches. This is not just a terminological debate—it is a strategic discussion that helps guide professional training and tourism practice across the region.
