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Tourism research in the German Democratic Republic / Hasso Spode, Gerlinde Irmscher

Main Author Spode, Hasso Coauthor Irmscher, Gerlinde Abstract So far, East German tourism research has been studied little by the history of science. Tourism science saw the light of day around 1930 in Berlin. During the Cold War, in the GDR it gained a notable extent that finally equalled the research in the ‘capitalist’ part of Germany. Initially, theoretical questions played a prominent role, but then – like in the West – tourism science became a strictly applied discipline. Part and parcel of the planned economy, its focus was on the parastatal social tourism: holiday making was seen as a means to improve the health of the ‘workers and farmers’ through ‘recreation’ and – unspoken – as a means to stabilize the political system. Thus, it became a centrepiece of consumer policy (like in Nazi times). Research successfully helped to steer and expand the ‘recreational system’. However, demand grew faster than supply and, even worse, people remained cut off from the glittering West. Despite vast subsidies and very high travel intensity, discontentment with travel opportunities reached a level that essentially contributed to the collapse of the GDR in 1989. Tourism researchers warned from that growing tide of discontentment and left no stone unturned – in vain. Analytic European Journal of Tourism Research, vol. 15 (2017), pp. 52-63 Topical name Turismo
Turismo - Investigação
Turismo - Aspetos sociais
Turismo - Aspetos históricos Geographical name Alemanha Form or physical characteristic Artigos em periódicos
Publicações em acesso aberto CDU 338.48(045) Online Resources Leia aqui este artigo
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Holdings
Item type Current location Call number Vol info Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Article Biblioteca Universidade Europeia (QBN)
Periódicos Biblioteca 		BIPAM-LX PER-14 vol. 15 (2017), pp. 52-63 Presencial/Restrito 3845-9698h
Total holds: 0

So far, East German tourism research has been studied little by the history of science. Tourism science saw the light of day around 1930 in Berlin. During the Cold War, in the GDR it gained a notable extent that finally equalled the research in the ‘capitalist’ part of Germany. Initially, theoretical questions played a prominent role, but then – like in the West – tourism science became a strictly applied discipline. Part and parcel of the planned economy, its focus was on the parastatal social tourism: holiday making was seen as a means to improve the health of the ‘workers and farmers’ through ‘recreation’ and – unspoken – as a means to stabilize the political system. Thus, it became a centrepiece of consumer policy (like in Nazi times). Research successfully helped to steer and expand the ‘recreational system’. However, demand grew faster than supply and, even worse, people remained cut off from the glittering West. Despite vast subsidies and very high travel intensity, discontentment with travel opportunities reached a level that essentially contributed to the collapse of the GDR in 1989. Tourism researchers warned from that growing tide of discontentment and left no stone unturned – in vain.

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