Research Associations as Network Facilitators: A Snapshot of the Travel and Tourism Research Association

This article presents a discussion on research associations as facilitators of knowledge networks in a community of tourism research and marketing professionals. The Travel and Tourism Research Association was selected for a case study to examine factors, attitudes, and behaviors in relation to professional networking of its members. Perceptions of knowledge networks, and of the association as a network facilitator, are discussed in the contexts of social networks and capacity-building of a scientific community. While the observations are made of a small sample from a single association, results of the study have potential implications for understanding and nurturing professional networks in an applied research community.