For many people, holidays are an increasingly central feature of contemporary western society. The tourism industry has expanded rapidly since 1950, but this book poses the significant question of consequent environmental impacts: are environments being benefited or damaged, by the tourist who visit them? A well-balanced introductory text, this topical book on the relationships between tourism, society and the environment, examines 'tourism' and 'environment' in detail, and gives a historical overview of the growth of the tourism industry. It discusses how the tourism industry markets physical and cultural environments to be consumed by the tourist, and the consequences of the tourism they then attract. It explores: * how the economics of tourism can be adopted in a positive way to aid conservation * whether the concept of sustainability can be applied to tourism * provides a critique of the 'new' forms of tourism, that have developed in recent years. An extensive range of international case studies from both the developed and developing world are used to illustrate the theoretical ideas presented, and to aid the student, it includes end of chapter summaries, further reading guides and boxed vignettes focusing on contemporary environmental issues and debates.

The issue of maintaining a balanced relationship between tourism and the environment has received considerable attention since the 1970s. However, only in the 1980s and 1990s did it become a topic of systematic academic inquiry and research, distinguished from the broader area of the environmental impacts of recreation and leisure activities. This volume dwells on the environmental and economic impacts of tourism and is divided as follows: Part 1: Introduction and Overview Part 2: Tourism and the Environment: General Considerations Part 3: Regional Issues Part 4: Economic Issues Part 5: Policy Issues The work is complemented by a subject index.

The contributions contained in this volume deal with two perspectives of ‘tourism and environment'; the 'role of the environment in tourism' and ‘environmental tourism'. The same message would be expected in both cases. The environment comprises the set of biophysical and cultural events surrounding us and influences the activities developed depending on time and site. Among the environmental characteristics of a region, climate is usually the most relevant and conditions almost all other components. Climate defines much of the natural, as well as the urban cultural landscape and the countryside of an area. Seasonal environmental change affects the life and culture of each place and largely explains the choice of destination of travellers. Environment and landscape therefore give rise to an interesting and varying relationship over the year. Thus, coastal landscapes are not inherently more beautiful in summer than in other seasons but environmental conditions cause a greater demand in this season. Certain places in the world captivate visitors who flock to them in large numbers. Local people recognize the benefit of this, employers become interested in the economic aspects and so the tourism infrastructure develops. The appeal of ‘good climate' has led to a change from a rural subsistence culture to a lucrative services economy in some areas. Unfortunately however in many cases short-sightedness and corruption can lead to the ruin of the natural landscape. Situations like this are now common throughout the world due to the environmental mismanagement of tourism. Local populations within emerging tourism-based economies should learn this lesson. The papers included in this volume address important issues related to tourism and the environment and offer a better understanding of some of the current challenges.

"This volume provides a research-based overview of the relationship between tourism development and environmental quality. The concept of sustainable tourism is examined as a prelude to a detailed treatment of the principles and implications of sustainable tourism development. The authors look at policy directions, with new forms of alternative tourism analysed in this context. The volume then proceeds to consider the potential of land use planning and Environmental Impact Assessment systems as instruments in the translation of sustainable tourism development into practice." "Conventional forms of interpretation are questioned and the efficacy and transferability of different systems are evaluated. Examples from around the world are used to illustrate the principles discussed. This volume will appeal to students and researchers in tourism as well as to professionals in the tourism industry."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

As humans we have stewardship over the environment. Man’s dominion does not mean a license to abuse, spoil, squander or destroy. Future cultures will be able to reach their potential only if this generation remembers that sustainable land use is a combination of economics, ecology and social justice. Our ancestors survived due to an innate sense of “oneness” whereby they helped each other. For them everything was “holy”. Sustaining desired ecological, economic, and social conditions in the system is a big challenge, but not an impossible task. This book presents chapters by scientists from different disciplines from the Mediterranean Basin and its environs. It presents updated information and highlights the way forward for the fields of economy, environment and ecology, making this book a very useful source for people working in these different disciplines. Contributions have been prepared by experts in these respective fields. The book also brings to the fore important future tasks for these particular disciplines, and provides up-to-date references, tables and figures illustrating research findings. As such, this volume is a must-read for students, researchers and professionals in environmental sciences, ecology, forestry, geography and other related fields.

This book is designed to illustrate many of the issues and approaches associated with sustainable tourism development, policy and research. Included are case studies of tourism development using both quantitative and qualitative methods, analytical frameworks for managing tourism and chapters addressing critical questions about the relationship between tourism and sustainability goals. As a whole, the book demonstrates the many dimensions and topics associated with attempts to address the complex issues associated with sustainability and tourism. Added in this second edition, are several new chapters that address emerging issues in management of tourism. Part I (Frameworks and Approaches) discusses the need for integration of social and environmental issues in tourism development. Part II (Tourism and Place) explicitly recognizes the importance of understanding the values and attributes of areas that become tourist destinations. Part III (Emerging Issues in Culture and Tourism) illustrates that we live in a dynamic world, that what was once acceptable is no longer, that our mental models of tourism development are in constant change and that researchers and policy makers must be alert to shifting public values and beliefs. This part includes material on local attitudes, poverty alleviation, indigenous people and tourism, and a discussion about culture and tourism. The book has 16 chapters and a subject index.

This handbook explores and critically evaluates the debates and controversies inherent to tourism's relationship with nature, especially pertinent at a time of major re-evaluation of our relationship with the environment as a consequence of the environmental problems we now face.