Tourism research: 50 years of tourism, hospitality and events journals published in English

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to trace 50 years of English language tourism, hospitality and events journals. This paper is divided into three parts. The first part examines the evolution of journal titles from their humble beginnings to today. This part also traces the introduction and attrition of journals over time. The second part analyses the SCOPUS database to examine changes in authorship practices across five decades. The third part of the paper speculates on what may occur in the future, including the likelihood of more journal consolidation and greater author gamesmanship in a metric-driven world. Design/methodology/approach – Data were derived from two sources: the author’s own database of journals, which was updated as of December 2024, and an analysis of the SCOPUS database of journal and authorship coverage from 1975 to the present. Findings – More than 280 tourism, hospitality and events titles have been published, of which some 220 are still active. Journal coverage has expanded substantially from its origins, where titles covered generic issues, to now, where they cover more than 40 thematic or geographic topical areas. Authorship practices have changed, with the near demise of the single-authored paper to such an extent that it is now an endangered species. In its place, papers with four or more authors are now the norm. Interestingly, two-thirds of authors appear only once during the entire 50-year evaluation period. Discussion of the future of the journal is also considered. Research limitations/implications – The analysis of authorship practice is reliant on the SCOPUS database. While its coverage is extensive, it is not universal, as approximately 60% of extant English language journals (mostly run independently) are not covered. Practical implications – This paper highlights the challenges many new and emerging scholars face as they are expected to be highly prolific authors. Their performance is often assessed against super productive scholars. Yet, to join the 5% Club, authors who are among the top 5% of contributors to the journals, require publication of a more modest one paper a year over their careers. Social implications – Hopefully, this paper can be used to encourage providers to reassess their performance requirements for staff. Originality/value – To the best of the author’s knowledge, this paper is the first to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the entire suite of journals and authorship practices in the field over a 50-year period.