Advancing evolutionary economic geographies of tourism: trigger events, transformative moments and destination path shaping

Abstract

The study of tourism destination evolution has been enriched in recent years by the adoption of concepts from Evolutionary Economic Geography (EEG). The aim of this article and those constituting this special section is to further develop this field of research by discussing recent developments within EEG and Tourism Studies, paying special attention to the nature and impact of trigger events and transformative moments that represent a turning point in the evolution of destination development paths. We consider the role of reproductive and transformative agency, and different types of destination path plasticity. Three key issues and areas for future research are identified: the role of human agency, the co-evolution of tourism with other development paths, and the importance of utilising political economy perspectives, including legitimation and discursive practices.