Tourism, Community, and Cultural Resilience: Evolving Narratives and Practices

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About this Research Topic

Submission deadlines

  1. Manuscript Summary Submission Deadline 3 February 2025 | Manuscript Submission Deadline 3 June 2025

  2. This Research Topic is still accepting articles.

Background

Tourism communities often face unique challenges that test their social and cultural fabric. Rapid tourism growth can lead to cultural commodification, social inequality, and loss of identity, while crises such as pandemics or natural disasters can disrupt livelihoods and community cohesion. Understanding social and cultural resilience involves exploring how these communities engage in participatory planning, preserve their heritage, and leverage social networks for support. By examining these dynamics, researchers can identify strategies to enhance resilience, ensuring that tourism contributes positively to the community's cultural and social sustainability. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of community engagement and the preservation of cultural heritage as key factors in building resilience. However, there is still a need for a deeper investigation into the mechanisms that strengthen social networks and support systems within tourism communities. This research topic aims to address these gaps by exploring the multifaceted challenges that tourism communities face in maintaining and enhancing their social and cultural resilience.

This research topic aims to explore the social and cultural resilience of tourism communities, emphasizing the need to sustain and enhance their unique characteristics amidst various challenges. The goal is to bring together a collection of studies that will explore cases from various world regions, with a particular focus on the Global South. By examining participatory approaches to tourism planning, strategies for preserving cultural heritage, and mechanisms that strengthen social networks, this research aims to develop effective policies and practices that enhance the well-being and stability of tourism communities. The ultimate objective is to ensure sustainable and resilient tourism development that aligns with local priorities and enhances social cohesion.

To gather further insights into the social and cultural resilience of tourism communities, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Community Engagement: Strategies and outcomes of involving local communities in tourism planning and decision-making processes.
• Cultural Heritage Management: Effective practices for preserving and promoting local culture without leading to commodification.
• Social Networks and Support Systems: Analysis of the role of social bonds and community support in enhancing resilience.
• Coping and Adaptation: Innovative ways in which communities respond to tourism-related disruptions and crises.
• Sustainability Practices: Sustainable tourism models that align with local priorities and enhance social cohesion.

We would welcome original research articles, case studies, review articles, and perspective pieces that offer new insights or comprehensive overviews. Contributions should focus on empirical data, theoretical frameworks, or detailed case studies that contribute to the broader understanding of resilience in tourism communities.

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Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

  • Brief Research Report
  • Community Case Study
  • Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
  • Data Report
  • Editorial
  • General Commentary
  • Hypothesis and Theory
  • Methods
  • Mini Review

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Keywords: Community engagement, cultural heritage preservation, social cohesion, tourism sustainability, resilience strategies

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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