Sociology of Tourism and Leisure in Lithuania: Research History and Perspectives

Abstract

This article reviews the development and research directions of the sociology of tourism in Lithuania, analysing the main academic approaches in this field. It discusses the scope of sociological tourism research and highlights the most relevant topics. The article also summarises key tourism statistical indicators and presents comparative survey data revealing the most common travel patterns from people’s places of residence, as well as the characteristics of trips with and without overnight stays during holidays, weekends, and other times. Finally, the article considers how the rapidly changing social and natural environment, climate change processes, and the development of new technologies and innovations may influence the evolution of tourism. These major changes are expected to shape future tourism research.