Making tourism geographies: a tribute to Alan A. Lew’s lifework

This collection of responses to Alan Lew’s 2024 American Association of Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting Special Lecture in Honolulu, Hawai’i, Why Travel? (Lew, 2024), reflects his enduring influence on the field of tourism geographies and its growth as a vibrant community of practice. As the founding Editor-in-Chief of Tourism Geographies, Alan pioneered an inclusive, interdisciplinary vision for the field, shaping its trajectory for decades. Tracing his intellectual journey—rooted in a multicultural background and enriched by international experiences—Alan illuminates the deep interconnections between place, identity, and consciousness through the study of tourism. Authored by leading scholars in the field,1 the contributions in this collection respond to Why Travel? (Lew, 2024), celebrating both Alan’s legacy and the evolution of a paradigm—one in which tourism geography is expansive, critically self-reflexive, ethically grounded, and methodologically diverse. Rather than seeking a definitive answer, Alan’s enduring question—Why travel?—invites reflection on mobility, place, and purpose within an increasingly entangled world. This collection of responses stands as a tribute to Alan A. Lew—whose vision, generosity, and intellectual spirit continue to inspire new generations of scholars exploring the geographies of tourism.