Sustainable tourism is not a clearly defined concept characterized by precise action. Rather, it is a notion that is open to a variety of interpretations and implementation mechanisms. Debates over the sustainability of tourism are strongly linked to the concept of sustainable development. Though dominated at present by the issue of climate change and poverty alleviation, improvement of quality of life and global environmental change are also topics that fuel the current discourse on sustainability.

In order to comprehend the emergence of sustainable tourism over the past decades, it is useful to reflect on key drivers for the rise of tourism over the past half century. One particular aspect that can help to explain its advance are the fundamental value changes industrialized societies have experienced in ...