Tourism Development

Tourism is an important phenomenon known to produce tremendous social, economic, and environmental change from a global, regional, and local perspective. Furthermore, tourism is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing industries, [Page 1243]with great potential to contribute to the sustainable development of destinations. The industry forms an important component of the economic development program of many economies.

While development of tourism can bring economic benefits, it can also have significant negative social, cultural, and environmental impacts on host destinations. Tourism is notorious for its ability to disturb, disrupt, and destroy local communities, undermining social norms, degrading social structure, and stripping communities of individuality. The negative consequences of tourism development have led to a growing concern for the conservation and preservation of natural resources, human ...