Tourism Development 1

For tourism professionals and urban and regional planners, this highly readable text introduces tourism development as a process with its own organizational structures and its own responses to the economic cycle of supply and demand. Here, the author keeps pace with the changing trends in tourism, its link with economic theory, and academic research as well as accessibility to travelers with across-the-board economic backgrounds.

This text explores the role of tourism as a potential contibutor to socio-economic development in destination areas. Establishing a link between tourism studies and development studies, it considers what is meant by development, the processes through which development may be achieved and, in particular, a number of fundamental issues related to the use of tourism as a development agent. In so doing, it challenges conventional thinking about the relationship between tourism and development.

Distinguishing between sustainable development and sustainable tourism, the authors examine whether, and in what form, tourism can contribute to sustainable development and growth. Focusing on different types of tourism appropriate to particular situations, the team of leading contributors draws on examples from around the world - Canada, USA, Spain, Belgium, UK, Australia - to explore tourism's contribution to the economic, social, political and environmental advancement of developing countries and the importance of tourism in industrialised nations. This book examines the new policies and initiatives established by both the private sector and the state to pursue sustainable tourism growth and identifies the opportunities and challenges inherent in achieving it.

An introduction to tourism development, covering the South African technikon syllabus and more, intended for students of tourism and related fields in sub-Saharan Africa

Tourism is widely considered to be an important factor in socio-economic development, particularly in less developed countries. However, despite almost universal recognition of tourism’s development potential, the extent to which economic and social progress is linked to the growth of a country’s tourism sector remains the subject of intense debate. Tourism and Development in the Developing World offers a thorough overview of the tourism-development relationship. Focusing specifically on the less developed world and drawing on contemporary case studies, this updated second edition questions widely-held assumptions on the role of tourism in development and seeks to highlight the challenges faced by destinations seeking to achieve development through tourism. The introductory chapter establishes the foundation for the book, exploring the meaning and objectives of development, reviewing theoretical perspectives on the developmental process, and assessing the reasons why less developed countries are attracted to tourism as a development option. The concept of sustainable development, as the most widely adopted contemporary model of development, is then introduced and its links with tourism critically assessed. Subsequent chapters explore the key issues associated with tourism and development, including the rise of globalization; the tourism planning and development process; the relationship between tourism and communities within which it is developed; the management implications of trends in the demand for and uptake of tourism; and an analysis of the consequences of tourism development for destination environments, economies and societies. A new chapter considers the challenges of climate change, sustainability of resource supply (oil, water and food), global economic instability, political instability and changing demographics. Finally, the issues raised throughout the book are drawn together in a concluding chapter that assesses the tourism and development ‘dilemma’. Combining an overview of essential concepts, theories and knowledge with an analysis of contemporary issues and debates in tourism and development, this new edition will be an invaluable resource for those investigating tourism issues in developing countries. The book will be of interest to students of tourism, development, geography and area studies, international relations and politics, and sociology.

A lack of entrepreneurial capacity, limited understanding of tourism markets and a lack of community understanding of tourism and its impacts have been identified as barriers to effective tourism development in peripheral regions. This book provides an analysis of this issue within tourism development practice.

Book Review

In setting the foundation for this book, the unique qualities of sport as a tourist attraction are presented and discussed theoretically. It then addresses in six chapters central themes of sport tourism development.