Tourism and the military: Pleasure and the War Economy

This paper argues that market forces have driven the means by which the military-industrial complex in the United States has increasingly shaped the tourism industry in recent decades. A business-oriented military entity that creates enormous destructive potential has had an influence upon the provision and character of tourism. Examining certain aspects of the tourism industry reveals a sometimes paradoxical, and yet ultimately profitable, blending of pleasure-oriented consumption and the by-products of a permanent war economy. The tourism industry and military-industrial complex may seem to possess qualities that are contradictory in nature but they are also complementary in various ways. Commerce supports and encourages profitable antagonisms; it is guiding the interplay between tourism and the military sphere

Research highlights► US military enterprise, not simply warfare, has influenced the tourism industry. ► The military-industrial complex is considered within the context of political economy. ► This complex has shaped modern mobility, security, and tourism-related consumption. ► Examples from across the tourism industry demonstrate the influence of the complex. ► Convergence between the military and tourism industry reflects capitalism’s dynamism.