Abstract:
Since the inception of a Kuomintang-led governance in 1949, recreation
and tourism geography in Taiwan has evolved to meet the conditions of
the times. Its development represents a unique case periphery to the
core Anglo-American international discipline and therefore it is
worthwhile investigating how geography studies can adapt to unique
circumstances through the application of a number of theoretical
paradigms. To illustrate the case of Taiwan’s recreation and tourism
geography development, 318 articles were found in the Chinese
Geographical Society’s (2008), Centennial Table of Contents/Index of
Chinese Geographical Writings (Mainland, 1911–1949; Taiwan, 1949 to
present). These articles have been categorized by date of publication,
distinguished by five historical periods ranging from 1946 to 2016. They
have also been identified by geography studies paradigms, including
regional studies, positivism and spatial science, behavioural; humanistic,
radical, cultural turn, and applied geography. This review of recreation
and tourism geography literature in Taiwan takes an interpretive
approach to exploring how its research reflects active responses to
unique local social-political and economic challenges of the times. It also
illustrates how geographers may, at times, counter dominant
development policies and it also demonstrates how the discipline can
be highly localized and subject to academic agendas
