An Exploratory Study on Convergence Tourism Research Based on Interpretive Social Science Views: Focusing on the Intellectual Flow of the Related Theories

Purpose: This study examined the intellectual flow of theoretical paradigms based on interpretive social science views and discussed what academic position each theory occupies in tourism studies and how related theories can be applied to the tourism research ecosystem. It particularly sought to expand the academic research scope of tourism studies by examining representative theoretical flow based on interpretive social science views. In addition, this study aimed to explore the need to review various theories and research methods that can be appropriately applied to the analysis of complex aspects of modern tourism. Methods: This study reviewed literature on the intellectual flow of related theories from Wilhelm Dilthey, Max Weber, Edmund Husserl, and Alfred Schütz to Peter Ludwig Berger and Thomas Luckmann to present the philosophical and theoretical foundations of qualitative research methods for Korea’s tourism studies with an identity as an applied science. It also examined what extensive intellectual collaboration should be made for the existing tourism studies for the main content of each theory to be established as an academic field of convergence research. Conclusion: This study explored the academic significance of tourism studies and the flow of intellectual paradigms based on interpretive social science views. Such academic reviews that include diverse perspectives from researchers can contribute to promoting convergence research results of tourism studies through cross-theoretical and methodological collaboration with adjacent academic fields in the future. The process of structuring tourism theories will need to use various criteria to sustainably maintain and improve this convergence research ecosystem.