MYTHS AS GUIDELINES IN TOURISM RESEARCH

Abstract

The present short essay review synthetizes part of my career studying myths and their influence in the conception of leisure. The recent advances in the applied investigation have overlooked myths as mere collective narratives shared by aborigines, while indeed, myths are an important symbolic touchstone of our contemporary society. We believe that Greeks or Romans were irrational because they accept the existence of supernatural monsters, while they would be skeptical of the idea the son of God is born from a virgin maiden. Well, myths are relevant stories that explain part of our world providing guidelines to address problems. In the same line, tourism which is anthropologically defined as a rite of passage is legitimated by the founding myths.