The State of Qualitative Research Methods in Tourism and Hospitality: Research Design Issues and The Way Forward

Within the field of tourism and hospitality, qualitative research as a method gained recognition only in the early 1990s. Qualitative research in tourism and hospitality research has primarily taken inspiration from the anthropology, sociology, and geography disciplines. Prior to the 1990, the field was largely dominated by research based on positivistic philosophies. Since then, researchers have started to question the fundamental nature of quantitative research, as it couldn't address the questions of meanings and understandings. Qualitative research was, therefore, considered as an alternative method offering richer interpretations and understanding of lived realities. While there has been a surge in qualitative methods over the years, quantification is still a dominant paradigm in much of the tourism and hospitality scholarship. Qualitative research is still portrayed as less methodologically robust, lacking rigor and credibility. Hence various attempts have been made to overcome the weaknesses. To understand how qualitative studies can be further developed to generate robust theoretical advancement, it is important to first understand the historical development of qualitative research within the field. We also provide insight on some of the most common types of qualitative inquiries used in tourism and hospitality research as well as their inherent challenges.