Editorial

Citation

O’Connor, N. and Macionis, N. (2011), "Editorial", Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 3 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/whatt.2011.40803baa.001

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Volume 3, Issue 2

The comparatively recent phenomenon of film-induced tourism is the subject of this theme issue and I should like to thank Noëlle O’Connor and Niki Macionis and their team of contributors for providing a comprehensive analysis of the topic.

Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes (WHATT) aims to make a practical and theoretical contribution to hospitality and tourism development and we seek to do this by using a key question to focus attention on an industry issue. If you would like to contribute to our work by serving as a WHATT theme editor, do please contact me.

Richard TeareManaging Editor, WHATT

How can the film-induced tourism phenomenon be sustainably managed?

Film-induced tourism is the collective term used for the study of tourist visits to a destination or attraction as a result of the destination being featured on the cinema screen, DVD, television or on video. The film-induced tourism phenomenon is a relatively new field of study, and so as yet, it is not fully understood nor explored, which means that this theme issue is both timely and useful. In essence, this collection provides a unique and readable resource for anyone interested in this exciting aspect of the tourism industry. Furthermore, it offers a real and positive example of the creation of a film-induced tourism research forum whereby both academics and practitioners can present their work to peers. In addressing the strategic question: how can the film-induced tourism phenomenon be sustainably managed? The issue focuses on the following key questions:

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  What are the impacts of film-induced tourism and how can they be minimised/maximised?

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  How can film-induced tourism be used to maximize the benefits for tourism destinations?

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  How does film-induced tourism contribute to host national economies?

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  What are the contemporary issues for the film-induced tourism stakeholders?

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  How should stakeholders respond to the challenges it faces and find solutions to preserve and develop its film induced-tourism concept?

About the Theme Editors

Noëlle O’Connor is a Senior Lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality Studies in Limerick Institute of Technology (Ireland). In 2007, Noëlle O’Connor published the book; Tourism and Hospitality Research in Ireland and earlier this year, A Film Marketing Action Plan for Film-Induced Tourism Destinations – Using Yorkshire as a Case Study). She is a member of the Editorial Review Board for a number of leading tourism journals and her research focus is in the area of film induced tourism, destination branding and tourism education.

Niki Macionis is Associate Dean of the Masters in International Tourism and Hospitality Management Program at James Cook University, Brisbane Campus, Australia. Niki Macionis completed her PhD thesis at Griffith University in 2007, entitled “Film-induced tourism: the role of film as a contributor to the motivation to travel to a destination”. Niki Macionis regularly reviews and referees papers and articles for a range of journals, especially in the expanding area of interest in film and movie tourism.

Noëlle O’Connor, Niki MacionisTheme Editors