The theming of tourism education: A three-domain approach

Explores developments in tourism education to date, drawing on wider theoretical perspectives including the “McDonaldization” and the “Disneyization” of society. The article raises critical questions that tourism stakeholders need to acknowledge if tourism, both as an industry and as a field of study, is to sustain itself in the long term. To meet the evolving needs of stakeholders, this article proposes that tourism education should become more specialist in nature. The authors forward a three-domain model of tourism education based on generic, functional, and product/market-based themed degree routes. The article outlines a cost/benefit analysis of theming tourism education for the key stakeholders and puts forward an action plan for its implementation.