Tourism for the emancipation of the oppressed: towards a critical tourism education drawing on Freirean philosophy

Drawing on the work of Paulo Freire (e.g., 1970; 1972; 1973), the aim of this paper is to reconsider the potential impact that critical pedagogy could have on tourism education. Specifically, the authors consider the democratic and emancipatory potential of applying Freire's work, and opportunities for implementing a critical pedagogical approach across tourism curriculum. Joining Hall and Smyth (2016) we engage in a process of critically questioning pedagogical practices in an effort to dismantle dominant structures. This paper establishes the importance of Freire's work to tourism education, supported by a conceptual framework. It proposes ways to implement emancipatory practices, supporting the reconceptualisation and reorientation of tourism curriculum and emphasising the generation of social value.