As the level of inquiry develops and a body of knowledge begins to take shape, tourism
researchers look beyond their own disciplines to inform their work, as in this special
edition. However, as noted, often these disciplines fail to engage with the tourism literature,
often neglecting a relevant body of literature and reducing the salience of their
contribution to knowledge.
By understanding where our knowledge has come from, how it is structured and where it
is going, this study enables us to develop a body of knowledge and to look forward to the
future rather than taking a backwards-looking perspective by simply repeating what is
already known. Bringing together the various strands of disciplinary thought from a
range of academics that make up this special edition on film tourism has been extremely
rewarding, and reassures me that we are well served in our endeavours with scholars from
a range of disciplines and cultural backgrounds.