geography tourism guide

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Subject Librarian

The library collection has a limited number of current travel guides. There are older editions located on Baker Level A or B . You can do a subject search for " guidebooks " to see how many different ones we have.

• guidebooks This search will show all of our guidebooks.
• boston mass guidebooks A search example for finding a guidebook for a specific location.

Journal articles & titles

Articles and other writings about Tourism can be found in many publications. Our collection includes several journals and trade magazines which look at Tourism. Below is a short list of some of the journal titles we have in our Library's collection.   Or you can use the search box at the top of the page.

Internet resource(s)

Keeping up with the journal literature

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Don't own or use a mobile device? You can still use BrowZine! It's now available in a web version. You can get to it here . The web version works the same way as the app version. Find the journals you like, create a custom Bookshelf, get ToCs and read the articles you want.

A short definition of Travel & Tourism

A term to cover travel to places away from one’s home environment undertaken principally for leisure but also for business. Tourist activities generally involve spending money in a new location and do not involve remuneration from within the place or country visited. Definitions of tourism by international organizations such as the World Tourist Organization recognize anyone who spends at least one night but no longer than one year somewhere other than their country of residence as a tourist. Tourism is often distinguished from recreation because it takes place further from the home and is more commercialized. It overlaps with leisure , but includes business travel. In The Tourist Gaze (1991) John Urry argued persuasively that the core feature of tourism was the desire to gaze upon what was different or unusual. Much of tourism can be understood in terms of the arrangements of places and landscapes to be viewed, and the cultivation of techniques of viewing and circulating images, e.g. photography, video, postcards, etc. But tourist activities do more than please the sense of sight, and often involve multiple embodied experiences, e.g. kayaking, dining, and sunbathing. Tourism is a form of and has its origins in travel, but a distinction is often made between the two; travel is described as a more specialized, niche, or selective activity, while tourism is associated with organized popular or mass activities. In part, the difference is one of marketing or discourse.

Although tourism now includes an increasingly diverse range of activities, perhaps too many for convenient classification, it is often described as the world’s largest industry. The World Travel and Tourist Council estimates that tourism accounts for 11 per cent of world GDP and 8 per cent of all waged work (200 million employees). But tourism as it is now understood is a relatively recent phenomenon. Most historical accounts trace its origins to the Grand Tour, undertaken by elite young European men between the 17th and 19th centuries. They would travel within Europe to see and learn about cultural matters, notably the fruits of the Renaissance and Greek and Roman classical civilizations. Health spas, seaside towns, and mountain resorts also became fixtures for the wealthy traveller. The 19th century saw the development of journeys to wild places inspired by romantic ideas or picturesque or sublime landscapes: England’s Lake District was a leading attraction ( see wilderness ). The spread of road and rail travel in the 19th century allowed the urban working classes to enjoy annual trips to seaside resorts such as Long Island, New York, ushering in the first organized tourist industry. But it was not until the combination of greater affluence, more leisure time, and air travel after the Second World War that modern mass tourism took off. Until the late 20th century, however, it remained open largely to Westerners, and Europe itself accounted for the majority of international tourist journeys. The globalization of tourism in the past two or so decades has involved almost every country becoming both an origin and destination of tourist travel to some degree. Close to a billion international tourist visits are now made annually, with China established in the top five for destinations and origins, alongside the USA and European countries. Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Dubai also count among the top tourist urban destinations.

The geographical interest in tourism has developed strongly since the 1980s, although there are studies dating back to the 1930s. It draws upon the same range of methods and perspectives as the rest of human geography , although there are important overlaps with environmental geography (for example, in coastal and marine environment management) and a strong element of applied geography . Given that tourism hinges precisely on the differences between one place and another, it is intrinsically geographical. The main areas of research are on factors of supply and demand, but also on social, economic, and environmental impact ( see resort life-cycle model ). There are separate studies of urban and rural tourism, as well as a concern for regional differences (Hudman and Jackson 2003). The different forms of tourism and their related bodily and sensuous experiences—heritage visits, ecotourism , package holidays, adventure travel, and backpacking among them—are also well studied. In unpacking the experiences of tours, however, it becomes apparent how many of its core characteristics—difference, exoticism, cosmopolitanism , leisureliness—are increasingly found more widely and even close to home. The interests of tourist studies in mobility , pleasure, and difference are, in this regard, central to much of current human geography.

Rogers, A., Castree, N., & Kitchin, R. (2013). " Tourism ." In  A Dictionary of Human Geography . Oxford University Press. Retrieved 9 Feb. 2022

In the Library's Collections

Tourism as a subject search brings up many results. Below are a few of the narrower, more specific subject headings.

     General books on Travel and Tourism are located in the call number range G 149 through G 180 on Baker Level A . Books on specific tourism spots or tourist trade in specific countries are located with books about that country. The online catalog is your best guide for finding these items.

• heritage tourism
• sex tourism
• culture and tourism
• agritourism
• [insert name of country] description and travel To find travelogues or other travel writings, do a subject search for the country name followed by "description and travel."
• jamaica description and travel An example for the subject heading described above.
• maine description and travel Another example.
• anthropology AND tourism This is a keyword search on the online catalog.

Introductory reading(s)

Selected book titles

Stewardship Resources

Home » Stewardship Resources » Geotourism Approach » The Geotourism Principles » How to Begin a Geotourism Program » Geotourism Around the World

Geotourism Around the World

Types of geotourism programs.

Destination-stewardship leaders have taken a variety of ways to establish geotourism as a preferred strategy. The goal is to help develop a geotourism mindset—a constituency of stewardship—with corresponding protection of natural and cultural distinctiveness, economic benefits, and improved quality of life. Some methods are more successful than others; some work better in one place or country than in another.

In most cases, the best first step to convene a provisional Geotourism Stewardship Council (pdf). This helps bring people representing all the distinctive attributes of the place under one umbrella. Then a mutually supported citizen-participation catalytic project helps get the ball rolling.

SAMPLE GEOTOURISM PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

◊ Read blog posts on geotourism initiatives.

Geotourism map-guides are the oldest projects used to promote the geotourism approach . Mobile apps can extend the information to smartphones, preferably with two-way functionality that solicits guided visitor feedback. Often conducted as a cobranded product with National Geographic Maps, map-guides require citizen participation and formation of a geotourism stewardship council—an ad hoc committee that brings all stakeholders to the table. (See About Geotourism Stewardship Councils PDF). Teaming up with National Geographic is not necessary; a university or neutral nonprofit organization can play the same role. Although the Geographic name commands a premium price, it does help get people to the table, generate media attention, and spur excitement about the project. See Geotourism MapGuides for more information and a complete list of MapGuide websites.

Geotourism Magazine This social franchise model from Montreal offers a way to for tourism to combine community benefit with civic participation and geotourism marketing. See Geotourism Magazine .

A geotourism-themed festival . Example: Lake Tahoe’s multisite Geotourism Expo , held annually, seeks to restore character of place to a recreational destination long dominated by generic resorts. For more on the Tahoe geotourism movement, see Comstock magazine .

Development of a geotourism visitor center . Example: Teton Geotourism Center in Driggs, Idaho provides information about the Greater Yellowstone area. The John Muir Geotourism Center does the same for the Sierra Nevada.

Geotourism storytelling project. Example: Okanagan Geotourism Initiative, B.C., Canada, solicits stories about the region to enrich visitor (and resident) appreciation for the heratge of the area.

Geotourism education . Examples: The Alaska Geotourism Collaborative focuses on community projects and education for interested Alaskans. In Bogor, Java, Indonesia, the GeoWisata (“Geotourism” in Indonesian) project trains girls in geotourism-related information technology skills.

Official endorsement. Governmental or quasi-governmental endorsement of the geotourism approach or public signature of the Geotourism Charter. Examples: Cook Islands , South Pacific, and the  OAS San Pedro Sula Declaration (pdf), whereby the Organization of American States tourism ministers declared geotourism the preferred model for Western Hemisphere countries. The challenge is ensure the establishment of substantive programs to back up these admirable statements of intent.

Reinvention and rebranding of the destination. Example: Fogo Island , Newfoundland is using the geotourism approach to build itself into an artist retreat and cultural center by adapting traditional materials, foods, and design distinctive to the place.

Official declaration of a protected or special district . Many places are seeking official protected status for their geotourism assets. Such protection may win global recognition by inscription on the UNESCO-maintained World Heritage List. Example: Some civic leaders in Borrego Springs, California, USA are exploring the long path to inscription for the surrounding Anza-Borrego Desert State Park as part of their new geotourism initiative.

Funding John McKenzie’s Geotourism Development Foundation seeks to partner with local tour operators to help preserve culture, protect the environment, and alleviate poverty.

Other geotourism projects, initiatives, and related activities

Indonesia: Java Nira (community focus) Mongolia: rural geotourism Rhode Island , USA Hurtigruten coastal voyager ships, Norway Carriacou , Grenada Bocas del Toro , et al. Tibetan/Sichuan , China Northern Mozambique (completed) Brasov, Romania (completed)

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Geotourism seeks to preserve and promote cultural heritage including historic neighborhoods such as those found in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Geotourism Principles

National Geographic works to protect the world's distinctive places through wisely managed tourism and enlightened destination stewardship. Here are its 13 geotourism principles for governments and tourism operators.

National Geographic works to protect the world's distinctive places through wisely managed tourism and enlightened destination stewardship. Here are its 13 geotourism principles for governments and tourism operators.

1. Integrity of a Place

Enhance the geographical character of the destination by developing and improving it in ways distinctive to the locale. Encourage market differentiation and cultural pride in ways that are reflective of natural and cultural heritage.

2. International Codes

Adhere to the principles embodied in the World Tourism Organization’s Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and the principles of the Cultural Tourism Charter established by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).

3. Community Involvement

Base tourism on community resources to the extent possible, encouraging local small businesses and civic groups to build partnerships to promote and provide a distinctive, honest visitor experience and market their locales effectively. Help businesses develop approaches to tourism that build on the area’s nature, history, and culture, including food and drink, artisanship, performance arts, and the like.

4. Community Benefit

Encourage micro- to medium-size enterprises and tourism business strategies that emphasize economic and social benefits to involved communities, especially poverty alleviation, with clear communication of the destination stewardship policies required to maintain those benefits.

5. Tourist Satisfaction

Ensure that satisfied, excited geotravelers bring new vacation stories home and send friends off to experience the same thing, thus providing continuing demand for the destination.

6. Conservation of Resources

Encourage businesses to minimize water pollution, solid waste, energy consumption, water usage, landscaping chemicals, and overly bright nighttime lighting. Advertise these measures in a way that attracts the large, environmentally sympathetic tourist market.

7. Protection and Enhancement of Destination Appeal

Encourage the destination to sustain natural habitats, heritage sites, aesthetic appeal, and local culture. Prevent degradation by keeping the volume of tourists within maximum acceptable limits. Seek business models that can operate profitably within those limits. Use persuasion, incentives, and legal enforcement as needed.

8. Planning

Recognize and respect immediate economic need without sacrificing long-term character and the geotourism potential of the destination. Where tourism attracts in-migration of workers, develop new communities that themselves constitute a destination enhancement. Strive to diversify the economy and limit population influx to sustainable levels. Adopt public strategies for mitigating practices that are incompatible with geotourism and damaging to the image of the destination.

9. Land Use

Anticipate development pressures and apply techniques to prevent undesired overdevelopment and degradation. Contain resort and vacation-home sprawl, especially on coasts and islands, so as to retain a diversity of natural and scenic environments and ensure continued resident access to waterfronts. Encourage major self-contained tourism attractions, such as large-scale theme parks and convention centers unrelated to character of place, to be sited in needier locations with no significant ecological, scenic, or cultural assets.

10. Market Diversity

Encourage a full range of appropriate food and lodging facilities, so as to appeal to the entire demographic spectrum of the geotourism market and so maximize economic resiliency over both the short and long term.

• Nat Geo Expeditions

11. Interactive Interpretation

Engage both visitors and hosts in learning about the place. Encourage residents to show off the natural and cultural heritage of their communities, so that tourists gain a richer experience and residents develop pride in their locales.

12. Market Selectivity

Encourage growth in tourism market segments most likely to appreciate, respect, and disseminate information about the distinctive assets of the locale.

13. Evaluation

Establish an evaluation process to be conducted on a regular basis by an independent panel representing all stakeholders' interests, and publicize evaluation results.

Participate and Learn More

• About geotourism
• See examples of our MapGuides
• Be a geotraveler
• Start a geotourism program in your destination

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Related topics.

• ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION
• CULTURAL TOURISM
• SENSE OF PLACE

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