“Think Tank” As a Knowledge-Based Strategy for Public Policy and Development: A Preliminary Case Study of the China Tourism Academy

This research deals with “think tank” as a knowledge-based strategy through a case study of China Tourism Academy (CTA) as a knowledge agency in fostering evidence-based practice in tourism public policy and development in China. The objectives are three-fold: 1) To describe and analyze “think tank” as a knowledge agency in fostering evidence-based practice in tourism policy and development, 2) To identify and critique on the role of “think tank” in facilitating organizational learning in hospitality and tourism, and 3) To contribute to knowledge on the use of research for tourism policy from an applied scientific community perspective. Through documentary analyses and in-depth interviews, the study addresses six research questions: 1) What is the position of CTA as a knowledge agency in the overall scientific community of China tourism research and development practice? 2) What is the role of CTA in facilitating knowledge-based strategies for national tourism policy and development? 3) What distinguishes CTA from traditional academic and higher educational institutions such as a university? 4) What constitutes the mandate of CTA research? 5) How is a research project funded, implemented, and disseminated in the CTA system? 6) What challenges does CTA face as a unique knowledge agency in the scientific community of tourism research and practice. The research is contextualized within praxis or theory-practice relationships. Notions such as knowledge management, utilization of research for public policy, organizational learning/learning organizations, as well as communities of learning and practice serve as sensitizing concepts to inform the analysis and discussion. The study is hoped to contribute to knowledge on theory and practice in tourism development and public policies, and will be of theoretical and practical implications to the understanding of “think tank” as a knowledge agency in the nurturing of a community of learning and practice.