This introductory guide offers innovative ideas and strategies to students undertaking their first social science research work. Academically rigorous yet accessible, it uses a systematic step-by-step approach to illustrate the research process and its applications to the tourism industry. Students are presented with numerous examples and case studies, linking theory with practice.

The textbook provides a balanced coverage of both qualitative and quantitative methods, accompanying students throughout the process of selecting a research topic and specifying research questions, aims and objectives. A range of pedagogical features such as discussion questions, practical tips and examples enable students to review the literature, understand models and methodologies, analyse and interpret data (quantitative and qualitative) and ultimately write up their findings.

Featuring contributions by a group of academics with expertise in their respective fields, the book provides a comprehensive and engaging introduction to research methods. This is an essential resource to tourism students and will also be of interest to researchers in any social science subject.

Ramesh Durbarry is currently the Director General of the Civil Service College, Mauritius. He was appointed Professor in Tourism and Deputy Director at the Amity Institute of Higher Education, Mauritius. He has worked at the University of Bedfordshire as Head of Department, Marketing, Tourism & Hospitality. He was the CEO of the UOM Trust Business School in Mauritius and has also worked at the University of Nottingham as a Research Fellow, Lecturer in Research Methods of Tourism and Travel and then as Associate Professor in Tourism Management/Marketing. After successfully developing the School of Public Sector Policy and Management at the University of Technology, Mauritius, he was instrumental in the creation of the School of Sustainable Development and Tourism. His research focuses on tourism and travel, tourism taxation, price sensitivity of tourism and the impact of the tourism sector on the various economies, with a keen interest on climate change and sustainable tourism. He has published various articles in leading international journals and has contributed chapters in international books. He has worked on various projects for organisations such as WTO, UNWTO, EU, UNCTAD, VisitScotland and EMDA, among others, and on tourism destinations such as Malta and Cyprus.