Bridging an interdisciplinary gap: a case for uniting tourism and urban planning for a consistent understanding of the

Abstract

Both tourism researchers and urban planners use the term "tourist bubble" to describe a geographic area in a destination within which visitors operate. However, there is an interdisciplinary disparity in the conceptualization of the tourist bubble. This paper aims to more clearly describe the intersection of tourism and urban planning research, as well as to illuminate semantic similarities and differences between the two disciplines. A new methodology was developed for identifying and mapping the urban tourist bubble through structured interviews with individuals representing the tourism and urban planning professions. Understanding the urban tourist bubble is important because individuals representing both of these professions influence policy decisions that affect the urban experience of visitors as well as residents.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the 2008 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium

Citation

Bosley, Holly E.; Brothers, Gene L. 2009. Bridging an interdisciplinary gap: a case for uniting tourism and urban planning for a consistent understanding of the. In: Klenosky, David B.; Fisher, Cherie LeBlanc, eds. Proceedings of the 2008 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium; 2008 March 30 - April 1; Bolton Landing, NY. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-42. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 165-170.