Tourism has become a major international industry, with many countries all over the world relying on the income it produces. Because it is a major source of finances and employment, government and other institutions activitely promote tourism, regardless of the impact on the environment, ecology and social structure of the region. The demands of tourism can contribute to the destruction of the natural and cultural environment upon which it depends. The natural and cultural landscape's capacity to accommodate the local and worldwide effects of tourism, the typology thereof and its implications for the economy and society constitute very important study objectives. The development of tourism can result in the degradation of natural landscapes that paradoxically attract tourists to such areas. Featured topics include: Tourism Strategies; Tourism as a Tool of Development; Tourism Impact; Tourism and Protected Areas; Rural Tourism; Community Involvement; IT and Tourism; Climate Change and Tourism; Environmental Issues; Art, Architecture and Culture; Modelling; Emergent Strategies for Tourism Development; Landscape and Tourism; Tourism and Urban Planning.

Tourism has become a major international industry, with many countries all over the world relying on the income it produces. Its economic advantages as a major source of finance and employment leads to its active promotion by governments and other institutions, independent of the consequences on the environment, ecology and social structure of affected regions.Conference topics include the following; Tourism strategies; Tourism as a tool of development; Emergent strategies for tourism development; Environmental issues; Climate change and effects of natural hazards in tourism; Tourism and protected areas; Art, architecture and culture; Rural tourism; Modelling; Community involvement; Tourism and the built environment; Renovation of mature destinations; heritage tourism; medical tourism.Sustainable Tourism 2012 will adopt a multi-disciplinary approach and will aim specifically to foster greater understanding and collaboration between scientists and social science experts, practitioners and policy makers. It will take a broad view of this sophisticated and complex industry, and will examine the practice of sustainable tourism from global travel trends through to destination and site management. Innovative solutions, including those involving ecological tourism are particularly welcome, as well as cultural initiatives that will lead to better approaches to tourism with the objective of preserving the diversity of our planet.

Contributors from the tourist industry, economics, and environmental sciences consider issues raised by an increased desire of tourists to see nature and experience exotic cultures rather than visit famous ruins and cities, and the growing acknowledgment that tourism degrades those very attractions. Only the authors are indexed.

Many of the world's islands are dependent on tourism as their main source of income. It is therefore imperative that these destinations are managed for long-term viability. The natural appeal of a destination is typically one of its main tourism related assets, yet the natural environment is also the feature most directly threatened by potential overexploitation. Sustainable Tourism in Island Destinations builds on existing literature in the subject by providing innovative discussions and practical management structures through the use of the authors' various island project work. An original feature is the focus on islands which are part of larger nations, rather than just on island sovereign states. Through an illustrated case study approach, the book focuses on the successes and challenges islands face in achieving sustainable tourism. The authors put forward innovative mechanisms such as multi-stakeholder partnerships and incentive-driven non-regulatory approaches as ways that the sustainability agenda can move forward in destinations that face specific challenges due to their geography and historic development. The case studies - from Canada, St Kitts, Honduras, China, Indonesia, Spain, Tanzania and Thailand - provide the foundation which suggests that alternative approaches to tourism development are possible if they retain sustainability as a priority.

The demands of tourism can contribute to the destruction of the natural and cultural environment upon which it depends. It is therefore essential to find ways to protect these environments for present and future generations. This book explores issues concerned with accomplishing environment, social and economic sustainability.

Tourism, internationally, is the largest economic sector both in terms of earnings and number of people employed. Understandably, the economic advantages have led to the active promotion of tourism by governments and other institutions, often independent of the consequences on the environment. The challenge is to balance the need for a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate income, employment and the conservation of local ecosystems. Sustainable tourism has to be both ecologically and culturally sensitive. This book contains papers presented at the Third International Conference on Sustainable Development, held in Malta. The Meeting focused on empirical work and case studies from around the world, and the book offers new insight and best practice guidance for supporting sustainable tourism. Adopting a multi-disciplinary approach, this book examines the practice of sustainable tourism from global travel trends through to destination and site management. Of interest to scientists, practitioners and policy makers, the topics covered in this volume include: Art, culture and nature; Climate change and tourism; Coastal issues; Community involvement; Ecological issues; IT and tourism; Modelling and estimates; Risk and safety; Rural tourism; Tourism and protected areas; Tourism as a factor of development; Tourism as a tool of urban development; Tourism impact; Tourism strategies.