Tourism shapes the development process of tourism sociology

Abstract

Since the mid-20th century, the sociology of tourism has emerged as an independent sub-discipline, reflecting the increasingly profound impact of tourism on social structures and cultural transformation processes. This article employs a historical epistemology approach to clarify the role of tourism phenomena in shaping the developmental trajectory of tourism sociology. Based on a historical tracing of sociological research on tourism and an analysis of scholarly discourse in their process: formation of concepts and research objects; transformation of theories and central themes; contemporary trends in mobility, materiality, emotions, and sustainability. The study affirms that tourism is not only an object of sociology but also an intellectual agent promoting theoretical and methodological innovation in modern tourism sociology.