What are the basic approaches of the study of tourism?

The institutional approach considers various intermediaries and institutions that perform tourism activities.

The produce approach studies various tourism products and how they are produced, marketed, and consumed.

The historical approach, which is not widely used, examines how tourism institutions have evolved over time and reacted to change.

The management approach focuses on the management needs to operate a tourist enterprise; including planning, research, pricing, advertising, and control.

The economic approach is an important approach to the practice of tourism because economics drives so much tourism. This approach examines supply, demand, balance of payments, foreign exchange, employment, expenditures, development, multipliers, and other economic factors that could impact tourism.

The sociological approach studies the tourism behavior of individuals and groups of people, as well as the impact of tourism on society, as well as the class systems in countries and the customs between host and guest.

The geographical approach specializes on the study of climate, location, and environment, as well as on economic aspects - integrating this approach with the economic approach.

There are interdisciplinary approaches to the study of tourism as well, which include elements of all of the above approaches.

Political science approach which includes many political institutions which are evolved in tourism activities are calling for political science tourism.

Legal approach which creates the laws,regulations and legal environment in which the tourism industry must operate.

For more information on the studies of tourism, please see more information under related links.