Epistemology and education in tourism: Portuguese higher education

Abstract

The purpose of this article is interpret a part of the tourism phenomenon that is not yet fully revealed, their epistemology nature. This question has a great influence on the scientific, educational and curricular approaches in Portuguese higher education. The theoretical matrix is the analysis of the current epistemological status, the scientific structure and the educational organization in Tourism, in order to interpret the incidence of the current paradigm (s) in the composition of Tourism schools and
their educational projects. For this purpose, the empirical research seeks to systematize secondary data about the reality of Portuguese higher education, with the objective of demonstrate the importance of this study area after an evolution of 30 years, in order to characterize the scientific status reached by the emerging scientific area of Tourism. Following this analysis, we can conclude on its gradual recognition in epistemological, scientific and educational in higher education, namely in Portugal. The basic scientific area identified in courses is mostly Tourism and Leisure or just Tourism. However, it is important to highlight a certain diversity of scientific areas considered fundamental in the curricula, which reveal the different approaches and Schools in which the courses are taught.