INTRODUCTION

The following Statutes were drawn up at the first General Meeting of the RC 50 "Sociology of Tourism" held in Bielefeld during the XIIIth World Congress of Sociology, July 1994. They were subsequently endorsed by mail ballot of membership in October 1994.

ARTICLE I NATURE OF THE RC 50

1. The RC 50 was founded in accordance with Article 5.2 of the Statutes of the International Sociological Association (ISA) by decision of the Research Council of the ISA.

2. The RC 50 "Sociology of Tourism" is a Committee of the ISA for research and other academic activities relating to the phenomenon of tourism.

ARTICLE II PURPOSES

1. To secure and develop individual and organisational contacts among sociologists of tourism throughout the world.

2. To encourage the international dissemination and exchange of information on significant developments in the sociology of tourism and to promote related scientific activities throughout the world.

3. To facilitate and promote international meetings and research in the sociology of tourism.

4. To encourage those countries not represented in its membership to make use of the Committee and its facilities.

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP

1. The RC 50 comprises individuals or associations active in research and/or teaching in the field of sociology of tourism.

2. All individual members of the Committee shall also be individual members of the ISA.

3. All individual members of the Committee shall have equal voting rights.

4. A membership fee shall be established every two years by the Executive Board of the Committee.

5. Where applicants are unable to pay the membership fee, and their qualifications are deemed appropriate by the Board, they may be admitted as members of the Committee "in good standing".

6. Student members shall normally pay a lower fee than other members. The quantum of this fee shall be determined by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IV GOVERNING BODIES

1. The RC 50 conducts its activities through a General Meeting and its Executive Board.

2. The General Meeting comprises all paid up voting members and takes place at each World Congress of the ISA. The General Meeting determines the direction of activities, prepares a plan of work of the Committee, and receives reports from the Executive Board. Decisions of the General Meeting are taken by a simple majority in open vote. Elections to the Board are conducted by confidential ballot.

3. The Executive Board consists of 5 members: a President, three Vice-presidents, and a Secretary/Treasurer. The Executive Board carries out the plan of activities of the Committee, promotes professional contacts with the governing bodies of the ISA and with other research committees of the ISA, and reports its activities to the General Meeting and the governing bodies of the ISA.

4. The Executive Board takes decisions by majority vote.

5. The President of the Executive Board shall normally only be elected for one four year term. Other officers may be re-elected for an additional period of four years.

ARTICLE V OBLIGATIONS OF BOARD MEMBERS

1. The President of the RC 50 represents the Committee as a delegate to the Research Council of the ISA and other organizations and conducts the activities of the Executive Board in accordance with the decisions of the General Meeting.

2. The First Vice-president is responsible for research and for preparation of the academic sessions of the RC 50 at World Congresses of Sociology. The First Vice-President replaces the President when the latter is unable to fulfil the duties of President.

3. The Second Vice-president is responsible for the organization of interim conferences of the RC 50 and for collaboration with other organizations outside the ISA.

4. The Third Vice-President is responsible for publications other than in-house publications.

5. The Secretary/Treasurer organizes the work of the Executive Board and carries out its decisions. The Secretary/Treasurer collects the membership fees and other income, and prepares the financial report of the Board for presentation to the General Meeting. The Secretary/Treasurer is also responsible for the publication and dissemination of the Committees' newsletters.

ARTICLE VI CHANGE OF STATUTES

The Statutes may only be changed by a General Meeting.