Abstract
This study explains the roots of critical pedagogy and the ways and benefits of critical tourism pedagogy. By criticizing tourism education designed for the sector, it tries to open a space for students' enlightenment and liberation through critical pedagogy. The boundaries of critical pedagogy, which is a radical and willing pedagogy for transformation, are drawn to develop critical consciousness that will lead to the conversion of the individual, the learning environment, and society in general. Instead of the education system in which the didactic teaching method was adopted, a roadmap was presented for improving a culture of understanding, wisdom, and criticism with critical pedagogy. These are: (1) increasing critical tourism studies in terms of quality and quantity, (2) increasing critical courses in the education curriculum and enriching their content, (3) creating freedom and developing dialogue, and (4) combining different teaching methods.
TopIntroduction
A high level of technical knowledge is required in the applied sciences, especially in engineering and medicine. Part of the curriculum can be devoted to technical knowledge and skills. Undergraduate education in tourism cannot be designed like engineering (Belhassen and Caton, 2011). Of course, there may be technical and applied courses to gain professional skills. However, designing a purely pragmatist tourism education only strengthens the capitalist ideology and understanding of management. To balance this, critical pedagogy in tourism education seems essential. It is substantial to develop a culture of understanding and criticism in tourism undergraduate education.
It is seen that the tourism curriculum includes courses focused on gaining knowledge, skills, and competence in the field of tourism (Sheldon, Fesenmaier & Tribe, 2011; Airey & Johnson, 1999). It is seen that there are no courses on critical thinking in many tourism programs. Tourism education is aimed at the interests of the industry. This study challenges neoliberal policies and their impact on tourism pedagogy. This study presents the basic framework for initiating a transformation by revealing the purpose, nature, and ways of critical pedagogy in tourism. Tourism academics have a mission to give direction for moral and political stances. They should rethink their responsibility as public intellectuals to address social issues and true democracy (Giroux, 2021).
This study constitutes a resource for students' enlightenment and liberation through critical pedagogy in tourism education. Tourism education, created with a pragmatist perspective, focuses on the efficiency and productivity of businesses rather than focusing on employee problems. It is seen that the exploitation and domination practices in the sector are ignored. It is possible to see this from the subject distributions that academic studies focus heavily on (Çıvak & Sezerel, 2018). This study aims to fill this gap in the field. In doing so, a direction is drawn to realize the transformation in tourism education, following in the footsteps of the pioneers who steered critical pedagogy (see Freire, 1993; Bourdieu & Passeron, 1990). Thus, it will help to develop a critical consciousness in society. There is a need for a more radical and willing pedagogy for transformation (Abraham, 2014).
The following sections are given the roots of critical pedagogy, critical pedagogy in tourism, and a conclusion.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Critical Management Studies: Critical management studies advocate an approach to management theory and practice that encompasses much more than a narrow focus on improving efficiency, effectiveness, and profitability by combining broader issues such as justice, human development, and community well-being.
Critical Theory: Critical theory claims that scientific knowledge can only be produced through criticism.
Critical Paradigm: The critical paradigm questions the status of stereotyped historical, economic, social, and cultural values that are human products; It examines alienation, commodification, and oppression by making a general criticism of ideology.
Critical Pedagogy: Critical pedagogy is a movement that involves teaching and learning relationships so that students acquire self-awareness and social awareness and take appropriate measures against oppressive forces.