This book provides an in-depth exploration of the dynamic intersections between economic geography and tourism, highlighting how spatial, economic, and social processes shape tourism development—and how tourism, in turn, transforms economic spaces. Combining theoretical insights with real-world case studies, it offers a comprehensive understanding of tourism’s evolving role within economic geography.
The first part lays a strong theoretical foundation, introducing key concepts such as the Tourism Area Life Cycle, path dependence, agglomeration economies, smart specialization, and regional resilience within the context of tourism research. It explores spatial and temporal patterns in tourism development, the growing influence of digitalization and smart tourism, and the roles of innovation and competitiveness in shaping destination dynamics.
The second part shifts focus to tourism’s broader economic and social implications. It critically assesses urban tourism’s links to gentrification, circular economies, and social conflicts while exploring strategies to address spatial enclaves and foster integrated tourism networks in low-density and fragile regions. Environmental challenges, including the impact of tourism mobility on local communities and ecosystems, are also examined.
The book concludes by addressing the tensions and future trajectories of tourism development, questioning whether sustainable or regenerative tourism can thrive within market-driven economies where decision-making prioritizes individual preferences over collective well-being. It calls for a reassessment of contemporary policy and regulatory frameworks to align tourism with broader economic and environmental goals.
By bridging economic geography and tourism studies, this book equips scholars, policymakers, and practitioners with analytical tools to rethink tourism development and advocate for strategies that are economically viable and effectively sustainable, inclusive and resilient.
Chapter
1. Introducing a multidisciplinary context: tourism, economics
and geography.- Part I. From Economic Geography to Tourism.
Chapter 2.
Tourism Area Life Cycle, evolutionary tourism development and path
dependence.
Chapter
3. Spatiality and temporality: tourism as a place and
knowledge-based activity.
Chapter
4. Smart tourism and the co-creation of
experiences: social networks and Big Data manipulation.
Chapter
5.
Agglomeration, externalities and regional innovation systems.
Chapter
6.
Smart specialization, tourism competitiveness, growth and resilience.-
Chapter
7. New Economic Geography: cultural-creative economies and urban
tourism.- Part II. From Tourism to Economic Geography.
Chapter
8.
Experiential tourism, circular economy, gentrification and conflicts in
cities.
Chapter
9. Fragile terrains: thematic routes, spacial integration of
attractions and mediatized places.
Chapter
10. Transport, spatial mobility,
sustainability and climate change.
Chapter
11. Tourism impacts on common
spaces and resources: the quest for participatory governance.
Chapter
12.
From (un)sustainable to regenerative tourism planning and management
challenges.
Chapter
13. Closing Remarks and Outlook: futures for tourism in
the spatial economy.
João Romão is an Associate Professor at Yasuda Womens University (Japan), specializing in tourism, hospitality, and regional planning. He holds a PhD in Tourism and has 60 publications, including books, editorial works and articles in leading journals. He serves at the editorial board of several journals. As a Principal Investigator, he has conducted tourism research in Portugal and Japan, obtaining 5 competitive research grants. His interests encompass innovation, creative economies, cultural heritage, sustainable development, and public governance. He applies both quantitative and qualitative methods, emphasizing spatial analysis. He has diverse experiences as a consultant for public policies, working on regional development and urban planning. He is also a co-chair of the cluster on Tourism, Leisure and Recreation of NECTAR (Network on European Communications and Transport Activities Research).
