Over the last two or three decades, tourism research is dominated by micro, problem solving studies supposedly relevant to the industry. To the frustration of scholars, results of this work is often ignored by the industry leaders and policymakers in their planning or day to day decision-making. At the same time, professionals are frustrated by researchers' inabilities to give them clear answers to the problems they face. Using the research cycle as a framework, perspectives of scholars and practitioners are compared, different insights identified, and informed solutions proposed in order to bridge the gap between tourism theory and practice.

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Renata Tomljenovic, Institute for Tourism, Croatia