Special Issue - Call for Papers
Tourism & Borders:
Dynamic Changes on the National Frontier
Guest Editors:
Dallen J. Timothy, Arizona State University
Dimitri Ioannides, Mid Sweden University
Marek Więckowski, Polish Academy of Science
The Westphalian treaties of 1648 solidified the theretofore nebulous notion of state sovereignty and established the basic legal framework by which state boundaries are defined, established, and maintained. Since the Peace of Westphalia, international borders have had a significant impact on global trade and human mobility, restricting some people and products, while facilitating the movement of others. Borders have affected international commerce (goods and services) in various ways through protectionist barriers, tariffs, and other trade restrictions.
Over the past few centuries, national borders have become stronger and more clearly etched into the landscapes of places as legal precedent has dictated the need for clearly defined lines of sovereign control and as countries have aimed to protect not only their domestic production but also the safety and security of their populations and resources. This has led to what political geographers and other social scientists refer to as ‘bordering’ and border-making, or the creation of borders and the establishment of their functions dealing with trade, mobility, information, security, and other state-related phenomena.
Bordering has affected tourism in many ways through ordering and othering processes (Stoffelen & Timothy, 2023) that have impacted tourists’ mobilities, trade in goods and services, and how tourism itself manifests in border areas and in cross-border regions. There is now a robust literature on the effects of bordering on tourism, particularly with regard to borders as constraints/barriers, attractions and destinations, modifiers of tourism landscapes (and vice versa), and transit spaces (for example, see Gao et al., 2019; Gelbman, 2008; Gelbman & Timothy, 2011, 2019; Prokkola, 2010; Sofield, 2006; Stoffelen et al., 2017; Timothy, 2001; Timothy & Gelbman, 2023; Więckowski, 2023). These approaches to the study of borders and tourism have led to a significant knowledge archive about the fundamental relationships between borders (bordering) and tourism. Nevertheless, it is now time to move beyond this somewhat unidirectional view of border-tourism relationships toward what is often labeled ‘debordering’ and ‘rebordering’ (Ioannides et al., 2006; Paasi & Ferdoush, 2023; Prokkola, 2007; Sohn, 2022; Stoffelen, 2024; Su, 2024; Timothy & Gelbman, 2023; Więckowski, 2025; Więckowski & Timothy, 2021).
Debordering generally encompasses the growth of neoliberal trade, supranationalism (e.g., European Union, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, etc.) and free trade, cross-border cooperation, and various other globalization processes that reduce the barrier effects of state frontiers (Newman, 2006; Scott, 2012; Sohn, 2014; Timothy, 2021; van Houtum, 2005). Rebordering refers to the process(es) reversing debordering, wherein borders once again become barriers to communication, human mobility, and trade. This has been especially manifested in recent years with the COVID-19 pandemic, recent geopolitical upheavals, Brexit, and growing waves of undocumented immigrants in Europe, North America, and Australasia. Debordering and rebordering reflect transformations in geopolitical forces, border functions, landscapes, and action spaces. Through the process of debordering, state boundaries are often transformed into tourist spaces or spaces of othering, creating a new role for the boundary landscape, new spaces for tourism, and the next stage of border evolution (Ioannides et al., 2006; Gelbman & Timothy, 2011, 2019; Więckowski et al. 2024). Debordering offers opportunities for some benefit to be drawn from transfrontier differences or disparities between the two sides, and lays the foundation for cross-border cooperation, as a border can eventually come to serve as an axis of cooperation. However, any opening-up can be frustrated easily by geopolitical changes and various crises, resulting in a course of rebordering. Even the commemoration of borders through heritagization can result in rebordering when borders are maintained or even re-erected for heritage purposes.
Over the past few centuries, national borders have become stronger and more clearly etched into the landscapes of places as legal precedent has dictated the need for clearly defined lines of sovereign control and as countries have aimed to protect not only their domestic production but also the safety and security of their populations and resources. This has led to what political geographers and other social scientists refer to as ‘bordering’ and border-making, or the creation of borders and the establishment of their functions dealing with trade, mobility, information, security, and other state-related phenomena.
Bordering has affected tourism in many ways through ordering and othering processes (Stoffelen & Timothy, 2023) that have impacted tourists’ mobilities, trade in goods and services, and how tourism itself manifests in border areas and in cross-border regions. There is now a robust literature on the effects of bordering on tourism, particularly with regard to borders as constraints/barriers, attractions and destinations, modifiers of tourism landscapes (and vice versa), and transit spaces (for example, see Gao et al., 2019; Gelbman, 2008; Gelbman & Timothy, 2011, 2019; Prokkola, 2010; Sofield, 2006; Stoffelen et al., 2017; Timothy, 2001; Timothy & Gelbman, 2023; Więckowski, 2023). These approaches to the study of borders and tourism have led to a significant knowledge archive about the fundamental relationships between borders (bordering) and tourism. Nevertheless, it is now time to move beyond this somewhat unidirectional view of border-tourism relationships toward what is often labeled ‘debordering’ and ‘rebordering’ (Ioannides et al., 2006; Paasi & Ferdoush, 2023; Prokkola, 2007; Sohn, 2022; Stoffelen, 2024; Su, 2024; Timothy & Gelbman, 2023; Więckowski, 2025; Więckowski & Timothy, 2021).
Debordering generally encompasses the growth of neoliberal trade, supranationalism (e.g., European Union, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, etc.) and free trade, cross-border cooperation, and various other globalization processes that reduce the barrier effects of state frontiers (Newman, 2006; Scott, 2012; Sohn, 2014; Timothy, 2021; van Houtum, 2005). Rebordering refers to the process(es) reversing debordering, wherein borders once again become barriers to communication, human mobility, and trade. This has been especially manifested in recent years with the COVID-19 pandemic, recent geopolitical upheavals, Brexit, and growing waves of undocumented immigrants in Europe, North America, and Australasia. Debordering and rebordering reflect transformations in geopolitical forces, border functions, landscapes, and action spaces. Through the process of debordering, state boundaries are often transformed into tourist spaces or spaces of othering, creating a new role for the boundary landscape, new spaces for tourism, and the next stage of border evolution (Ioannides et al., 2006; Gelbman & Timothy, 2011, 2019; Więckowski et al. 2024). Debordering offers opportunities for some benefit to be drawn from transfrontier differences or disparities between the two sides, and lays the foundation for cross-border cooperation, as a border can eventually come to serve as an axis of cooperation. However, any opening-up can be frustrated easily by geopolitical changes and various crises, resulting in a course of rebordering. Even the commemoration of borders through heritagization can result in rebordering when borders are maintained or even re-erected for heritage purposes.
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In their broader scope, these notions of bordering, debordering, and rebordering also encompass the heritagization of borders (Prokkola & Lois, 2016) with regard to national identity and solidarity, memory-making, and the memorialization of border heroism or border darkness (Timothy & Więckowski, 2023). Likewise, they also frame an understanding of how tourism has become a force for altering national boundaries and effecting changes in state sovereignty (Timothy et al., 2014). Thus, from a tourism perspective, debordering and rebordering are part of a cycle that influences the industry from a range of perspectives.
What all of this boils down to is the fact that borders, while continuing to mark and delimit state sovereignty legally and physically, are fluid in their effects and outcomes. Therefore, borders can be seen as dynamic and organic organisms whose functions and effects change through time and with socioeconomic changes and geopolitical vagaries. Tourism is one of the socioeconomic sectors most affected by these border dynamics. The phenomenon of opening and closing borders in recent years has been multi-faceted and often occurs with little warning, especially since we have now entered an era of unpredictable changes. Accordingly, this unpredictability and its consequences, which are spatially contingent, require deeper conceptual and empirical research. |
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Scope of the Theme Issue
For this special issue, we seek submissions that address the topics mentioned above and which are relevant to the mandate of Tourism Geographies. Contributions should go beyond pure description to advance new knowledge or new ways of thinking about the dynamic relationships between borders and tourism. Examples of appropriate tourism topics for the special issue are as follows:
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Timetable
December 31, 2025 Deadline to submit papers online (follow TG’s submission guidelines) March 30, 2026 Reviewers’ comments/recommendations back to authors May 30, 2026 Revised papers submitted June 30, 2026 Acceptance or rejection of papers |
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References
Blasco, D., Guia, J., & Prats, L. (2014). Emergence of governance in cross-border destinations. Annals of Tourism Research, 49, 159-173.
Gao, J., Ryan, C., Cave, J., & Zhang, C. (2019). Tourism border-making: A political economy of China’s border tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 76, 1-13.
Gelbman, A. (2008). Border tourism in Israel: Conflict, peace, fear and hope. Tourism Geographies, 10(2), 193-213.
Gelbman, A., & Timothy, D. J. (2011). Border complexity, tourism and international exclaves: A case study. Annals of Tourism Research, 38(1), 110-131.
Gelbman, A., & Timothy, D. J. (2019). Differential tourism zones on the western Canada–US border. Current Issues in Tourism, 22(6), 682-704.
Ioannides, D., Nielsen, P. Å., & Billing, P. (2006). Transboundary collaboration in tourism: The case of the Bothnian Arc. Tourism Geographies, 8(2), 122-142.
Newman, D. (2006). Borders and bordering: Towards an interdisciplinary dialogue. European Journal of Social Theory, 9(2), 171-186.
Paasi, A., & Ferdoush, M. A. (2022). New borders and mobility in the age of globalization: De-bordering, re-bordering, and beyond. In D.J. Timothy, & A. Gelbman (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Borders and Tourism, pp. 47-60. London: Routledge.
Prokkola, E. K. (2007). Cross‐border regionalization and tourism development at the Swedish‐Finnish border: “Destination Arctic Circle”. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 7(2), 120-138.
Prokkola, E. K. (2010). Borders in tourism: The transformation of the Swedish–Finnish border landscape. Current Issues in tourism, 13(3), 223-238.
Prokkola, E. K., & Lois, M. (2016). Scalar politics of border heritage: An examination of the EU’s northern and southern border areas. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 16(1), 14-35.
Scott, J.W. (2012). European politics of borders, border symbolism and cross-border cooperation. In T. Wilson, & H. Donnan (Eds.), A Companion to Border Studies, pp. 83-99. Chichester: Wiley.
Sofield, T. H. (2006). Border tourism and border communities: An overview. Tourism Geographies, 8(2), 102-121.
Sohn, C. (2014). Modelling cross-border integration: The role of borders as a resource. Geopolitics, 19(3), 587-608.
Sohn, C. (2022). How to brand a border despite its wall? A social semiotics approach to cross-border place branding. Geoforum, 135, 82-92.
Stoffelen, A. (2024). A review of tourism and bordering processes: Launching the Annals of Tourism Research curated collection on tourism and territorial borders. Annals of Tourism Research, 105, 103728.
Stoffelen, A., Ioannides, D., & Vanneste, D. (2017). Obstacles to achieving cross-border tourism governance: A multi-scalar approach focusing on the German-Czech borderlands. Annals of Tourism Research, 64, 126-138.
Stoffelen, A., & Timothy, D.J. (2023). Bordering, ordering and othering through tourism: The tourism geographies of borders. Tourism Geographies, 25(8), 1974-1992.
Su, X. (2024). Security, economy, and the touristification of borders. Annals of Tourism Research, 105, 103734.
Timothy, D.J. (2001) Tourism and Political Boundaries. London: Routledge.
Timothy, D.J. (2021). Tourism in European Microstates and Dependencies: Geopolitics, Scale and Resource Limitations. Wallingford: CABI.
Timothy, D.J., & Gelbman, A. (eds) (2023). Routledge Handbook of Borders and Tourism. London: Routledge.
Timothy, D.J., Guia, J., & Berthet, N. (2014) Tourism as a catalyst for changing boundaries and territorial sovereignty at an international border. Current Issues in Tourism, 17(1), 21-27.
Timothy, D.J., & Więckowski, M. (2023). Borders, heritage and memory. In D.J. Timothy, & A. Gelbman (Eds.) Routledge Handbook of Borders and Tourism, pp. 219-240. London: Routledge.
van Houtum, H. (2005). The geopolitics of borders and boundaries. Geopolitics, 10(4), 672-679.
Więckowski, M. (2023). How border tripoints offer opportunities for transboundary tourism development. Tourism Geographies, 25(1), 310-333.
Więckowski, M. (2025). The contemporary Polish borders in a state of change. GeoJournal, 90(1), 1-17.
Więckowski, M., Łaska, W., Timothy, D.J., Michniak, D., & Cyargeenka, A. (2024). From closed border to open tourist space: Landscape changes along the Polish-Slovak border. GeoJournal, 89(1), article 33.
Więckowski, M., & Timothy, D. J. (2021). Tourism and an evolving international boundary: Bordering, debordering and rebordering on Usedom Island, Poland-Germany. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 22, 100647.
Blasco, D., Guia, J., & Prats, L. (2014). Emergence of governance in cross-border destinations. Annals of Tourism Research, 49, 159-173.
Gao, J., Ryan, C., Cave, J., & Zhang, C. (2019). Tourism border-making: A political economy of China’s border tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 76, 1-13.
Gelbman, A. (2008). Border tourism in Israel: Conflict, peace, fear and hope. Tourism Geographies, 10(2), 193-213.
Gelbman, A., & Timothy, D. J. (2011). Border complexity, tourism and international exclaves: A case study. Annals of Tourism Research, 38(1), 110-131.
Gelbman, A., & Timothy, D. J. (2019). Differential tourism zones on the western Canada–US border. Current Issues in Tourism, 22(6), 682-704.
Ioannides, D., Nielsen, P. Å., & Billing, P. (2006). Transboundary collaboration in tourism: The case of the Bothnian Arc. Tourism Geographies, 8(2), 122-142.
Newman, D. (2006). Borders and bordering: Towards an interdisciplinary dialogue. European Journal of Social Theory, 9(2), 171-186.
Paasi, A., & Ferdoush, M. A. (2022). New borders and mobility in the age of globalization: De-bordering, re-bordering, and beyond. In D.J. Timothy, & A. Gelbman (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Borders and Tourism, pp. 47-60. London: Routledge.
Prokkola, E. K. (2007). Cross‐border regionalization and tourism development at the Swedish‐Finnish border: “Destination Arctic Circle”. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 7(2), 120-138.
Prokkola, E. K. (2010). Borders in tourism: The transformation of the Swedish–Finnish border landscape. Current Issues in tourism, 13(3), 223-238.
Prokkola, E. K., & Lois, M. (2016). Scalar politics of border heritage: An examination of the EU’s northern and southern border areas. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 16(1), 14-35.
Scott, J.W. (2012). European politics of borders, border symbolism and cross-border cooperation. In T. Wilson, & H. Donnan (Eds.), A Companion to Border Studies, pp. 83-99. Chichester: Wiley.
Sofield, T. H. (2006). Border tourism and border communities: An overview. Tourism Geographies, 8(2), 102-121.
Sohn, C. (2014). Modelling cross-border integration: The role of borders as a resource. Geopolitics, 19(3), 587-608.
Sohn, C. (2022). How to brand a border despite its wall? A social semiotics approach to cross-border place branding. Geoforum, 135, 82-92.
Stoffelen, A. (2024). A review of tourism and bordering processes: Launching the Annals of Tourism Research curated collection on tourism and territorial borders. Annals of Tourism Research, 105, 103728.
Stoffelen, A., Ioannides, D., & Vanneste, D. (2017). Obstacles to achieving cross-border tourism governance: A multi-scalar approach focusing on the German-Czech borderlands. Annals of Tourism Research, 64, 126-138.
Stoffelen, A., & Timothy, D.J. (2023). Bordering, ordering and othering through tourism: The tourism geographies of borders. Tourism Geographies, 25(8), 1974-1992.
Su, X. (2024). Security, economy, and the touristification of borders. Annals of Tourism Research, 105, 103734.
Timothy, D.J. (2001) Tourism and Political Boundaries. London: Routledge.
Timothy, D.J. (2021). Tourism in European Microstates and Dependencies: Geopolitics, Scale and Resource Limitations. Wallingford: CABI.
Timothy, D.J., & Gelbman, A. (eds) (2023). Routledge Handbook of Borders and Tourism. London: Routledge.
Timothy, D.J., Guia, J., & Berthet, N. (2014) Tourism as a catalyst for changing boundaries and territorial sovereignty at an international border. Current Issues in Tourism, 17(1), 21-27.
Timothy, D.J., & Więckowski, M. (2023). Borders, heritage and memory. In D.J. Timothy, & A. Gelbman (Eds.) Routledge Handbook of Borders and Tourism, pp. 219-240. London: Routledge.
van Houtum, H. (2005). The geopolitics of borders and boundaries. Geopolitics, 10(4), 672-679.
Więckowski, M. (2023). How border tripoints offer opportunities for transboundary tourism development. Tourism Geographies, 25(1), 310-333.
Więckowski, M. (2025). The contemporary Polish borders in a state of change. GeoJournal, 90(1), 1-17.
Więckowski, M., Łaska, W., Timothy, D.J., Michniak, D., & Cyargeenka, A. (2024). From closed border to open tourist space: Landscape changes along the Polish-Slovak border. GeoJournal, 89(1), article 33.
Więckowski, M., & Timothy, D. J. (2021). Tourism and an evolving international boundary: Bordering, debordering and rebordering on Usedom Island, Poland-Germany. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 22, 100647.
