As tourism has grown organically in most places with limited planning, some people have been burnt and they now reject tourism as a viable community asset. On the other hand, many believe that tourism is the answer to ‘everything’ and the only means for developing their community. Understanding the capabilities of tourism so that the correct decisions can be made in terms of community development is what this book is about.
Tourism in communities is not simply a case of whether to encourage visitors or not, but also what type of visitors and what type of tourism the community decides it wants and needs. The book consists of 7 chapters, one introductory chapter and six technical chapters. Each of the six technical chapters builds on the understanding gained from the previous chapters, and while they do not necessarily need to be read in strict order, such an approach would benefit the reader new to this field. Others may find it more beneficial to dip in and out of the chapters as required.
This book is a collection of professional knowledge of the author – Prof. Sue Beeton, who is a travel and tourism researcher and writer. This book took over nine years to materialize, gathering Beeton’s first-hand experiences with the communities of Shepparton, Dookie and Bendigo (Australia).
