Transforming Tourism

Regional perspectives on a global phenomenon

Publications / 09.4.20
Transforming Tourism

Tourism is the third largest socioeconomic activity in the European Union, one that contributes significantly to the union’s economic growth as it encompasses a growing number of new destinations.

Despite its development in the European regional context, recent studies have identified problems related to the sustainable use of natural resources, innovation dynamics and specialisation patterns in the framework of the tourism industry on the continent. Research has showed that destroyed environments, over-developed landscapes and loss of cultural community, among others, could undermine European regional tourism in the future. The reality of tourism saturation is explored in this new publication.

Although tourism has significantly contributed to these problems, it has the potential to significantly contribute to finding new and sustainable solutions. Tourists, businesses and government bodies dealing with tourism and development have a responsibility to prevent and mitigate the negative impacts of modern tourism, and to make sustainable tourism accessible to all. They also should ensure that host communities, the environment and the climate are protected, today and in the future. Our publication explores possible solutions that can be found through, for instance, models like that of degrowth tourism.

This book stems from papers tackled and conclusions drawn during the University of Deusto’s, Ezkerraberri Fundazioa’s and Coppieters Foundation’s conference “Transforming tourism from a regional perspective: challenges, visions, ways forward“. It aims to reassess tourism policy and planning by critically examining tourism development models and considering how the focus on sustainability might shape future tourism planning and policymaking on the matter.

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This publication is financially supported by the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not liable for the content of the publication or the opinions of the authors.

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Header photo by Max Böttinger on Unsplash

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