Tourism and on-site humour: A perspective article

Purpose: This paper aims to outline major theoretical concepts relating to the tourism-humour relationship and provide commentary on opportunities for further research in this area. Design/methodology/approach: Papers for this perspective research were sourced by conducting a systematic review which critically appraised relevant research on this topic to provide evidence on humour and its current use in tourism settings. Findings: Humour has received attention from many academic tribes and disciplines; however, investigations in the context of tourism are only in its early stages. Research limitations/implications: The paper is based on a select number of peer-reviewed literature studies on the topic of tourism and humour. Practical implications: The paper outlines some of the challenges that tourism operators face regarding authenticity, i.e. when the delivery of scripted humour is performed in such a way that it is considered spontaneous and meaningful. Originality/value: The paper provides a brief overview of how humour is currently used in tourism settings and recommends future research opportunities to guide further studies into this topic.