sustainable tourism book

• Partners and Fundings
• events & news
• green hotels
• who’s talking about us

5 Sustainable Tourism Books You Must Read

Sustainable tourism aims to simultaneously serve the needs of tourists and host communities, protecting and expanding opportunities for the future . To promote sustainable tourism is to manage all the resources involved in tourism, in such a way that economic, social and environmental needs can be met without neglecting the maintenance of cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and the systems that guarantee the life. In this light, this article gives you 5 books you absolutely must read in order to understand sustainable tourism.

1. Sustainable Tourism Management, by John Swarbrooke

This book is the product of the concept of sustainable development, and it has attracted international attention because it is a reaction to the problems generated by the practice of “ predatory tourism “, which has caused so much damage to the environmental, historical and cultural heritage of several countries.

2. Consumer Behavior in Tourism: An International Perspective, by Susan Horner and John Swarbrooke

This work is essential for students, tourism professionals and tourists in general and not just for the reflection that the title itself provokes. The authors also make a complete survey of the continents and their attractions as well as the cultural differences between them. For these reasons, this book becomes an essential tool to understand the rapid transformations of this valuable market to update your information and ideal to optimize your infinite opportunities.

3. Sustainable Tourism in Island Destinations, by Sonya Graci and Rachel Dodds

Building on existing literature on the topic, this book offers creative discussions and realistic management frameworks through the use of various island design works outlined by the authors. Most of the world’s islands depend on tourism as their principal source of income. For long-term sustainability it is therefore imperative that such destinations are handled. The natural beauty of a destination is usually one of its key tourism-related properties, but the natural environment is perhaps the resource most directly affected by possible overexploitation.

4. Overbooked: The Exploding Business of Travel and Tourism, by Elizabeth Becker

This book explains that excess reservations are a reality of the economy of tourism, and how it impacts various countries. Each chapter is grouped according to a theme and a given country is highlighted as a case study within each theme. The outcome is an easy-to-read book that doesn’t appear to be packed with too much detail.

5. Taking Responsibility for Tourism, by Harold Goodwin

Goodwin’s book is about the vitally significant global need for sustainable tourism. To those who plan to travel, and for those who consume, this is an incredibly significant obstacle. This is the most comprehensive contemporary analysis of the key issues crucial to the advancement of responsible tourism and has been written by one of the leading thinkers responsible for reforms in the sector. It extends the wider definition of travel and tourism obligation and analyzes how it relates to sustainable business and transparency business case.

If, on the one hand, predatory tourism can lead to the depletion of natural resources, as well as cultural de-characterization and social imbalance, sustainable tourism is composed of the same pillars of sustainable development: economic efficiency, social justice and ecological prudence.

In addition, sustainable tourism aims to strengthen tourism activity in the long term, based on environmental and cultural preservation that qualifies the tourist destination , generating permanent social benefits .

It is up to us, as travelers, businessmen, leaders or authorities, to think about how we can promote tourism that contributes to the well-being , quality of life and appreciation of the culture of the communities, environmental balance and preservation and the economic sustainability of both small and big entrepreneurs.

Cover image: Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

You might also like

4 Eco Trends of Tourism

How will be the tourism in the future? According to a recent report, more travelers will choose sustainability. Here are the 4 main eco trends! How will be the tourism in the future? Will we travel on spaceships visiting faraway planets or will we finally take care of the safeguard of our Planet? According to […]

7 giants that earn billions of dollars thanks to the global tourism

As air routes and the use of the internet increase, from the 1900s onwards the tourism sector has experienced a general growth in its business. Nowadays, 7 multinationals are earning billions thanks to global tourism, which includes cruises, hotels, and air routes. This is an actual oligopolistic challenge between parts that are willing to attract […]

Circular Economy and Tourism. The Ecobnb’s Guide

If you don’t know how Circular Economy and Tourism are related, find it out in the Ecobnb’s Guide. What’s about the Circular Economy? The Circular Economy, is an economic system that aims to reduce waste and to regenerate products and services. This innovative economic system is based on the philosophy of ‘Remake, Reuse, Recycle‘, so […]

Overtourism: Causes, Consequences and Solutions

Overtourism: one of the words that people use most in recent years. In effect, more and more often, tourist destinations suffer from overtourism, tourism overcrowding. Places that everyone wants to see because they are “famous”. Movie scenes shot in locations (such as Lake Braies) that now attract hordes of tourists looking for a short trip. Simply, they […]

Sustainable Tourism: An Introduction

• First Online: 29 June 2024

Cite this chapter

• Thomas Walker 5 ,
• Ender Demir 6 ,
• Gabrielle Machnik-Kekesi 5 &
• Victoria Kelly 5  

As with countless other sectors and industries, tourism—be it local, domestic, or international—was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This watershed event resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number of travelers, with the closure of international borders and travel bans. Since then, the industry has started to recover; with this recovery, so, too, have conversations reemerged regarding the need for more sustainable travel-related practices and frameworks. Conventional tourism, in spite of contributing to economic growth, has several disadvantages, including negative environmental impacts and the erosion of cultural heritage landmarks as well as the harming of relationships with local communities to whom such sites are of historic and/or spiritual value. This edited collection explores the myriad and multi-scalar ways that sustainability can be infused into modern tourism. The different chapters featured in this book suggest, respectively, alternative frameworks, timely innovations, and sustainable solutions to existing travel-related challenges, as well as recommendations for viable policies and practices moving forward.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

Berno, T., & Bricker, K. (2001). Sustainable tourism development: The long road from theory to practice. International Journal of Economic Development, 3 (3), 1–18.

Google Scholar  

Davies, T., & Cahill, S. (2000). Environmental implications of the tourism industry . Retrieved May 12, 2024, from https://www.csu.edu/cerc/documents/EnvironmentalImplicationsTourismIndustry2000.pdf

United Nations Environment Programme, & World Trade Organization (WTO). (2005). Making tourism more sustainable: A guide for policy makers . https://wedocs.unep.org/20.500.11822/8741

United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). (2020). International tourism growth continues to outpace the global economy . January 20. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.unwto.org/international-tourism-growth-continues-to-outpace-the-economy

United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). (2022). T ourism grows 4% in 2021 but remains far below pre-pandemic levels . Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.unwto.org/news/tourism-grows-4-in-2021-but-remains-far-below-pre-pandemic-levels

United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). (2024). https://www.unwto.org/news/international-tourism-to-reach-pre-pandemic-levels-in-2024#:~:text=Following%20a%20strong%202023%2C%20international,estimated%201.3%20billion%20international%20arrivals

World Travel & Tourism Council. (2022). Travel & tourism economic impact: World travel & tourism council . Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://wttc.org/research/economic-impact#:~:text=Meanwhile%2C%20international%20visitor%20spending%20amounted,21.7%25%20rise)%20in%202021

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada

Thomas Walker, Gabrielle Machnik-Kekesi & Victoria Kelly

Reykjavík University, Reykjavik, Iceland

Ender Demir

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Walker .

Editor information

Editors and affiliations.

Concordia University, Westmount, QC, Canada

Thomas Walker

Concordia University, Outremont, QC, Canada

Gabrielle Machnik-Kekesi

Concordia University, Toronto, ON, Canada

Victoria Kelly

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Walker, T., Demir, E., Machnik-Kekesi, G., Kelly, V. (2024). Sustainable Tourism: An Introduction. In: Walker, T., Demir, E., Machnik-Kekesi, G., Kelly, V. (eds) Sustainable Tourism. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43528-7_1

Download citation

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43528-7_1

Published : 29 June 2024

Publisher Name : Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

Print ISBN : 978-3-031-43527-0

Online ISBN : 978-3-031-43528-7

eBook Packages : Business and Management Business and Management (R0)

Share this chapter

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Publish with us

Policies and ethics

• Find a journal
• Track your research

The future is bright in the Orinoquia, Colombia

Tourism Breaking Down Barriers: Untouchable No More.

Successful, sustainable tourism – The courage to start with the market in mind

In Defense of Small and Local (Social Entrepreneurs)

Local is Hot and Smart

Welcome to sustainable tourism and responsible travel.

This book is designed to give readers an introduction to sustainability while looking at key concepts of sustainability, the relationships between tourism and sustainability, and the principles of sustainable tourism.

Recent Articles & Posts

Sustainable Tourism Is …

Sustainable tourism in tactical and strategic, optimizes the triple-bottom-line, and is collaborative. ...

Unpacking – Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Tourism and Hospitality

Launch of new Book - Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Tourism and Hospitality...

Island Tourism and the Climate Crisis

Traveling to islands can take us to new worlds and allow us to experience completely different ways of life. Escaping to an island can be rejuvenating and inspiring. Yet small island states face great challenges as we enter the middle decades of the 21st century. In a recent annotated review [1], I highlighted a number of challenges, including habitat preservation, pollution issues, and, of course, climate change. Islands are facing some of the greatest climate crisis challenges – from more powerful hurricanes and cyclones to rising sea levels.......

Trends in Tourism Sustainability

Sustainability has been an important topic in tourism for decades. It is exciting to see the ways groups from around the globe are tackling the wicked problem of ensuring tourism is a force for good. In a chapter I contributed to the Routledge Handbook of Trends and Issues in Tourism Sustainability, Planning and Development, Management, and Technology (catchy title, isn’t it??), I tackled the question – What are the trends in Tourism Sustainability? Here’s what I see as some of the important trends (Chapter spoilers ahead). If you......

Disasters, Tourism, and Resilience

The summer of 2023 will be remembered for the devastating fires impacting communities around the world. The images of destruction from Maui, Canada, and the Greek Islands are each seared in our minds. Many of these fires took place in communities that welcome visitors, highlighting the intersection of natural disasters and tourism.   As we think about how these places will rebuild, I recall lessons from Australia’s Bushfire Season of 2019. The fires that Summer (Southern Hemisphere) ravaged much of the country, including Lamington National Park in Queensland.......

Sustainable Tourism and Responsible Travel

Ensuring that tourism is truly sustainable – improving the lives of travellers and people in the destination communities – is a team effort. All the tourism system members must contribute in their own way to achieve the best possible outcomes. Travellers must be part of the solution. As Jane Goodall says, “ You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make”. Each......

Now Available

Receive Updates from START

• Business & Money

Buy new: .savingPriceOverride { color:#CC0C39!important; font-weight: 300!important; } .reinventMobileHeaderPrice { font-weight: 400; } #apex_offerDisplay_mobile_feature_div .reinventPriceSavingsPercentageMargin, #apex_offerDisplay_mobile_feature_div .reinventPricePriceToPayMargin { margin-right: 4px; } -51% $77.99 $ 77 . 99 FREE delivery July 9 - 10 Ships from: Sams-Books Sold by: Sams-Books

Return instructions, save with used - good .savingpriceoverride { color:#cc0c39important; font-weight: 300important; } .reinventmobileheaderprice { font-weight: 400; } #apex_offerdisplay_mobile_feature_div .reinventpricesavingspercentagemargin, #apex_offerdisplay_mobile_feature_div .reinventpricepricetopaymargin { margin-right: 4px; } $45.69 $ 45 . 69 free delivery monday, july 8 ships from: amazon sold by: river resells, return this item for free.

We offer easy, convenient returns with at least one free return option: no shipping charges. All returns must comply with our returns policy.

• Go to your orders and start the return
• Select your preferred free shipping option
• Drop off and leave!

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Sustainable Tourism & The Millennium Development Goals: Effecting Positive Change Paperback – August 15, 2012

Purchase options and add-ons.

• Print length 352 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Jones & Bartlett Learning
• Publication date August 15, 2012
• Dimensions 7 x 0.8 x 9.9 inches
• ISBN-10 1449628230
• ISBN-13 978-1449628239
• See all details

Editorial Reviews

About the author, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Jones & Bartlett Learning; 1st edition (August 15, 2012)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1449628230
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1449628239
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.44 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 0.8 x 9.9 inches
• #2,665 in Ecotourism Travel Guides
• #4,744 in Hospitality, Travel & Tourism (Books)

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

Share this content.

• Share this article on facebook
• Share this article on twitter
• Share this article on linkedin

EU Guidebook on Sustainable Tourism for Development

In recognition of the considerable opportunities and issues involved in the development of tourism, in 2012 the European Commission's Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation – EuropeAid established the project “Enhancing capacities for sustainable tourism for development in developing countries”. The project was undertaken in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) which was commissioned to prepare a Guidebook on Sustainable Tourism, as an engine for development, trade in services, job creation and poverty reduction.

The Guidebook is intended to enhance the understanding of tourism in all its dimensions, how it relates to the EU Agenda for Change so as to enable EU services in Brussels and the EU Delegations in 180 countries as well as other development institutions to include sustainable tourism development in their programme cycles.

UNWTO endeavours to maximize tourism’s contribution to, inter alia, development and international understanding, while minimizing its negative impacts, paying particular attention to the growth potential of developing countries. Likewise, the European Union is well placed to support developing countries in identifying and implementing interventions in sustainable tourism.

The approach has been based on the experience of UNWTO and its work with a wide range of partner agencies and governments. In particular, the results of the study have been field tested in six countries during and following the preparation of the document, namely Kenya, India, Vietnam, Senegal, Botswana and Timor-Leste . The guidebook was publicly launched with the EU on the 27th of June 2013 in Brussels.

Background- Sustainable Tourism for Development

Over the last decades, tourism has experienced continued growth and increased diversification, becoming one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world. The business volume of tourism today equals or even surpasses that of oil exports, food products or automobiles, offering millions of direct entry points into the workforce, particularly for youth and women, and a diversity of investment opportunities for young entrepreneurial talents. Tourism has become one of the major sectors in international trade, at the same time representing one of the main income sources for many developing countries.  It is their only service sector with recorded surpluses in trade compared to the rest of the world.

However, tourism can also be a source of environmental damage and pollution, a threat to the socio-cultural structure, a heavy user of scarce resources and a potential cause of negative externalities in society.  What must be done?

Tourism in the Global Development Agenda: The future we want Rio+20 outcome document

" Sustainable tourism is highlighted in the final outcome document of Rio+20 as a thematic area and a cross-sectorial issue within the framework for action and follow-up.

130. We emphasize that well-designed and managed tourism can make a significant contribution to the three dimensions of sustainable development, has close linkages to other sectors, and can create decent jobs and generate trade opportunities (…)

131. We encourage the promotion of investment in sustainable tourism, including eco-tourism and cultural tourism, which may include creating small and medium sized enterprises and facilitating access to finance, including through microcredit initiatives for the poor, indigenous peoples and local communities in areas with high eco-tourism potential (…)"

• Rio+20: The Future We Want
• Green Economy Report leaflet

In recent years, sustainability has emerged as a critical concern that must be addressed in any viable tourism development strategy. Expressed simply, sustainable tourism can be defined as “Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities”. Tourism is one of the ten economic sectors identified in the UNEP Green Economy Report, whose greening could increase prosperity, create employment and reduce poverty. In addition, tourists are increasingly demanding the greening of tourism. Tourism development should hence have a sustainable approach , to be able to promote growth in the long-term while maintaining a balanced use of resources. This should be supported at local, national, regional and international levels.

Developing Countries surpassing advanced economies’ international tourist arrivals in 2015

Although developed countries remain both the major tourism destinations and source of international tourism, developing countries are reducing the gap. In recent decades there has been a substantial diversification in international tourism destinations, and many developing countries have registered phenomenal growth in tourist arrivals and receipts. Tourism also particularly thrives on assets such as natural environment, warm climate, rich cultural heritage and plentiful human resources, where developing countries have a comparative advantage.

• Tourism is the first or second source of export earnings in 20 of the 48 LDCs
• In some developing countries, notably small island states, tourism can account for over 25% of GDP.
• From 2015, emerging economies will, for the first time receive more international tourist arrivals than advanced economies
• By 2030, 58% of international arrivals will be to emerging economy destinations of Asia, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa

However, tourism can also be a source of environmental damage and pollution , a heavy consumer of scarce resources and a cause of negative impacts in society.  For these reasons, it is imperative that it is well planned and managed , embracing the principles of sustainable tourism which is defined as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry the environment and host communities” .

The Purpose of the Guidebook- Sustainable Tourism for Development

The document is aimed at two main audiences:

• The EU and other development assistance agencies – to help them understand and identify opportunities to assist the tourism sector in delivering sustainable development.
• Governments and other stakeholders within developing countries – to help them identify where they may need to strengthen their approach to sustainable tourism, and if necessary to seek assistance, within the context of international priorities and policies for sustainable development.

In particular the document provides a basis for discussion between the above two groups in agreeing on priorities and actions for supporting sustainable tourism.

The study is seen as informing the existing cooperation frameworks and common assessment and coordination processes in Official Development Assistance and Aid for Trade . This applies particularly in the field of trade, in which tourism plays an important part, including the work of the Enhanced Integrated Framework in promoting Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies and in the delivery of Aid for Trade.

The study contributes to the positioning of tourism within the overarching framework for action on green growth, poverty eradication and sustainable development post-2015 , stemming from Rio+20 and addressed by the European Commission in Communication (2013) 92 A Decent Life for All: Ending poverty and giving the world a sustainable futur e

Related links

• A Decent Life for All: Ending poverty and giving the world a sustainable future

“Sustainable Tourism for development in developing countries”: A document in three interlinking parts

The Guidebook takes a comprehensive approach to tourism, covering a wide range of topics relating to its planning, development, management and impact. By working through the whole document, users are able to identify priorities for intervention across a spectrum of issues.

The Guidebook’s aim is to mainstream tourism by:

• Enhancing understanding and commitment to sustainable tourism.
• Providing guidance to assess the tourism sector’s importance, identifying opportunities for sustainable tourism development, planning actions, and enhancing sustainability of projects.
• Delivering a “Sustainable Tourism for Development Study” which will enable the EU and other development institutions to include sustainable tourism development in their programme cycles.

The guidebook is divided in the three parts described below:

• GUIDANCE NOTE:  Relates the UE framework for development, e.g. the EU Agenda for Change and Tourism pillars (methodology) and relates to EU priorities. It aims at providing guidance to EU services on the approaches required to ensure the effective implementation of priorities for sustainable tourism in developing countries. 
• SITUATION ANALYSIS : Describes the macro-economic dimensions of tourism; its contrubution to improve the situation of a country and its relation with other sectors; policies in place to develop the sector and its contribution to sustainable development and reviews the existing policies and programmes auming at developing sustainable tourism in developing countries.   
• METHODOLOGY:  Designes to ptovide EU delagrions with a sustematics approach to understand the impact and value of the tourism sector in the country and the way it is managed and operated; and to understand which actions are appropriate to improve the situation through tailored interventions. 

“The Methodology”: How to assess priorities for Sustainable Tourism in Developing Countries?

The Methodology follows a systematic structure which, through a series of questions * under each issue, enables the situation to be assessed, weaknesses and gaps identified and possible actions considered, while also pointing to existing services that are available. It focuses on five key pillars of sustainable tourism in developing countries: