Thinking Through Tourism

摘要

Scott and Selwyn's (2010) work highlights the anthropology of tourism. This book is a foundational set of ideas which defines the tourism phenomenon. While the volume should form part of the essential tourism literature, its scope goes beyond tourism academic pursuits. 'Thinking Through Tourism' is a thought-provoking book which sheds insights on some troubling issues of tourism. This volume through its several chapters has one interlinking thread which understands the tourism experience of humanity. This tourism experience enriches 'Self or provokes the 'Other'. Similar 'Self or unconnected 'Other' is the conflict and contrast which plays out in tourism destinations. The concern is with the 'Other', which brings out an absence of belonging and disconnect from the landscape. The editors propose that the discipline of anthropology can be used to provide new insights regarding tourism studies and understanding of the concept of 'Other' in relation to the tourism experience. Within the book tourism experiences are contextualised in diverse places, international and different geographical terrain, although a criticism is the limited reference to the tourism experience in developing or underdeveloped countries. Nonetheless, this text represents tourism from 'pollination' to 'pleasure' through relationships between spaces, images, objects and bodies (Selwyn, 2007 in Scott & Selwyn, 2010). One set of chapters seem to focus on 'pollination' through a sense of self, sexuality, home, encroachment and movement Another set of chapters denote 'pleasure' through gardens, enchantment, re-connection with heritage and culture. 'Pollination' and 'pleasure' in an anthropological sense is the nature of humanity epitomised through tourism. The tourism phenomenon therefore ensures the continuance of humanity and thus the study of tourism is as important to the survival of the human race as is other forms of study.