Tourism : Rethinking the Social Science of Mobility

"Tourism" talks rethinking the social science of mobility. "Tourism" is a critical and cutting-edge introduction to the major issues surrounding the production and consumption of tourism and its associated effects for the 21st century.

Tourism is presented as one of the key social science disciplines by which contemporary human mobility and interaction can be understood.

Issues are examined in terms of some of the key concepts of social, business and environmental studies, such as globalisation, localisation, identity, consumption, production, security and global environmental change.

The concept of mobility provides a coherent framework for analysing the development, nature and issues surrounding this worldwide industry that is integral to many development strategies.Main features include: presents analytical as well as descriptive frameworks to illustrate how tourism occurs in different places and spaces and how tourism mobility changes over time; provides a concise introduction to core tourism concepts and links the study of tourism and its development to the wider social sciences; international in scope, with case material from across the world; povides insights into some of the key issues in tourism studies and links qualitative and quantitative understandings of tourism related mobility; coverage of topics such as business networks, the tourism value chain, destination management, regional development, and governance ensure the text is relevant to students of the business and public sector dimensions of tourism as well as those in the wider social sciences.

Each chapter includes a short guide to further reading and relevant websites. "Tourisim" helps provide an understanding of the contemporary forces shaping tourism and its study in a manner that connects the field to broader policy and scientific debate that is approachable by students of tourism at all levels.This core text is designed to meet the demands of tourism students for a more conceptual, innovative and critical examination of the discipline in the context of the wider economic, political, and social environment.

It is essential reading for students and practitioners in tourism, business studies, geography and across the social sciences.

C. Michael Hall is Professor of Tourism at the University of Otago.