Use of network analysis in tourism research

Purpose This paper discusses the status of the network concept in tourism, examining the historical development of network thinking in the wider literature and the origins of network thinking in sociology, anthropology as well as mathematics. It then examines the usefulness of the network concept for the study of tourism and reviews a number of different applications in tourism research reported in three tourism journals over a six year period. Based on this analysis and previous typologies of approaches to the study of networks, the paper develops a fourfold topology of types of network research in tourism. Methodology The paper reviews recent network research in tourism using a convenience sample of refereed journal articles from Current Issues in Tourism, Tourism Management and Annals of Tourism Research between 2000 and 2006 and categorises these on a fourfold typology. Findings The paper highlights a number of research areas where the authors consider that further application of the network concept would be of benefit. These areas include application of complexity and chaos theory and the study of the tourists' networks of friends and acquaintances that influence tourist behaviour. Research limitations The review of the tourism literature is limited to three journals and a six year period. Originality/value of paper The paper develops an original typology of network studies in tourism and discusses complexity theory and the application of physical network concepts in social systems