What has Anthropology Got to Do with It: Interface between Tourism and Anthropology

Although there are obvious differences between anthropology and tourism in terms of goals and approach, the two fields share certain similarities: they focus on specific spaces and pay attention to the ways of life of those who live within them. This article explores the interconnectedness between anthropology and tourism to identify how anthropology can enhance tourism and tourism studies. I have incorporated my experiences as an anthropologist and an academic in higher education institutions, particularly experiences gained supervising the dissertations of postgraduate students in anthropology and tourism studies. I have discussed how adopting an ethnographic approach in student research projects in the two disciplines of tourism has yielded insights into the experiences of tourists and members of local communities at tourist destinations. The article concludes that anthropology can enrich the discipline of tourism through its ethnographic inquiries, expertise, and knowledge, which are indispensable for promoting tourism and enhancing knowledge production in tourism studies.