Tourism and Degrowth: Towards a Truly Sustainable Tourism

This book explores the relationship between tourism and degrowth, arguing that mounting critique of overtourism is a structural response to the ravages of capitalist development. It will be of interest to scholars of tourism, environmental sustainability, and development.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 210 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The relationship between tourism and degrowth is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a comprehensive conceptual framework and research agenda. The rapid and uneven expansion of tourism as a response to the 2008 economic crisis has been accompanied by growing social discontent over so-called overtourism, which has led to concerns about the negative impacts of mass tourism on local communities, the environment, and cultural heritage. Despite decades of concerted global efforts to achieve sustainable development, socioecological conflicts and inequality have only increased in many places, highlighting the urgent need for alternative approaches.

Degrowth, as both a social theory and social movement, has emerged within the context of this global crisis. It is a response to the growth imperative that underpins the capitalist economy and seeks to redefine development goals in terms of social well-being, ecological sustainability, and social equity. However, the vibrant degrowth discussion has yet to engage systematically with the tourism industry in particular, while tourism research has largely neglected explicit discussion of degrowth.

This volume aims to bring the two discussions together to interrogate their complementarity. The contributors argue that mounting critique of overtourism can be understood as a structural response to the ravages of capitalist development more broadly. By re-politicizing the discussion of tourism development, the debate concerning overtourism offers a valuable opportunity to explore the potential for degrowth to facilitate a truly sustainable tourism.

The chapters in this volume were originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Sustainable Tourism, a leading journal in the field of tourism and environmental sustainability. The chapters cover a range of topics, including the historical roots of tourism and degrowth, the theoretical foundations of the relationship between tourism and degrowth, case studies of sustainable tourism practices, and the challenges and opportunities for integrating degrowth principles into tourism development.

The contributors to this volume come from diverse academic backgrounds, including tourism, environmental studies, development studies, and economics. They bring a wealth of expertise and experience to the discussion, and their insights provide valuable contributions to the ongoing debate about the future of tourism and degrowth.

In conclusion, Tourism and Degrowth offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to exploring the relationship between tourism and degrowth. By bringing together the two discussions together, the volume provides a valuable platform for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to engage in meaningful dialogue and explore the potential for sustainable tourism development in the context of the global crisis.

Weight: 386g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367490980