“What happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas”: when tourism imaginaries fashion the scientific discourse

International audienceTourism imaginaries, defined as “a collection of images and representations originally produced and used within the tourism sphere”, have shaped perceptions about Las Vegas. “Sin City” is seen as the ultimate entertainment destination where gambling and partying rule. Despite the duality commonly postulated between tourism and academic discourses, this paper argues that tourism imaginaries have fashioned the scientific discourse on Las Vegas. After identifying the Las Vegas tourism imaginaries, this paper demonstrates how scientific production has appropriated the topoi of the tourism industry. A thorough bibliographic review highlights the moral and social condemnation influencing the production of knowledge about Las Vegas. Finally, this paper advocates for learning to learn from Las Vegas