Social tourism and organised capitalism: research, policy and practice

Social tourism is a contested concept, practised little in the UK, but more widely throughout mainland Europe. However, limited research demonstrates its benefits to recipients. The emergence of social tourism has occurred through a historical and discursive process linked to organised capitalism and modern civil society. Social tourism has the capacity to transcend traditional and commercial concepts of tourism and challenge purely market-based tourist and leisure activities. Supporters can make the case for social tourism on the UK policy agenda through the following: more holistic research into social tourism and its benefits; the use of current government changes around the public health structure; and integration of social tourism into community needs around social capital and local health and wellbeing intervention development.