Qualitative Research in Tourism - Ontologies, Epistemologies and Methodologies (Hardcover)

Whilst qualitative approaches are beginning to be more commonly used and accepted in tourism, discussions of research methods have rarely moved beyond practical considerations. Limited attention given to the underlying philosophical and theoretical underpinnings that influence the research process. This book links the theory with research practice, to offer a more holistic account of how qualitative research can be used in tourism. This book focuses solely upon qualitative research in tourism and combines discussions of the philosophies underpinning qualitative research with chapters written in a reflexive style that demonstrate the ways in which the techniques can be used. It is based on a range of empirical tourism studies set in the context of theoretical discussion. It demonstrates the benefits of using a range of qualitative approaches to research tourism and the text explores the ways in which a number of techniques, including participants observation, memory work, biographical diaries, focus groups and visual exercises, have been adopted by researchers from a range of disciplinary backgrounds to undertake empirical research in tourism. The book provides a range of case studi