Tourism in Destination Communities

Book excerpt: Annotation. As a result of the ongoing growth in the tourism industry, many destinations around the world are undergoing transformations. New destinations are being 'discovered' in regions previously ignored, as people search for regions that are yet unspoiled by the ravages of mass tourism. At the same time, traditional destinations are experiencing rapid environmental, socio-cultural and economic modifications. These changes have the most effect on the destination community - the location where tourists spend their time and money, and influence development or degradation of the local environment.Tourism in Destination Communities describes both the positive and negative effects of tourism on the destination community. The chapters are divided into three sections which address the relationship between tourism and the destination community, the various impacts of tourism on the destination community and the challenges and opportunities for destination communities. Each chapter contains brief case studies and empirical examples.