Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.22598/at/2017.29.1.7

TOWARDS A CONVERGENCE OF TOURISM STUDIES AND ISLAND STUDIES

Erik Cohen ; Department of Sociology and Antropology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

Abstract

Island studies and tourism studies have overlapping interests, but there was little interaction between them. This article seeks to facilitate a convergence between the two fi elds. Taking its cue from island studies, the article investigates the role of the metaphors of ‘heaven’ and ‘hell,’
in the specifi c mode of ‘paradise’ and ‘prison,’ on the dynamics of touristic development on small islands. The powerful effect of the metaphor of islands as “earthly paradises“ is brought out, but the very development which the metaphor provoked turned out to be destructive of their paradisiac qualities. Metaphors of ‘hell’ attract thanatourism but have less transformative power. It is argued that ‘paradisiac’ metaphors underemphasize the human aspect of ‘island’ paradises, while island tourism researchers pay insuffi cient attention to the effects of tourism on social change on such islands. It is suggested that greater attention to this issue might be a facilitating factor in the convergence of island studies and tourism studies.

Keywords

island studies; island tourism; tourism studies; small islands; earthly paradises; island hells

Hrčak ID:

184230

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/184230

Publication date:

1.6.2017.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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