Degrowth in Tourism: Conceptual, Theoretical and Philosophical Issues

The modern-day world faces a hostile climate, depleted resources and the destruction of habitats. The dream that growth will lead to a materialistic utopia is left unfulfilled by a lack of ecological and economic capacity. The only choice is to find alternatives to increased growth, transform the structures and institutions currently shaping the world, change lifestyles and articulate a more credible vision for the future and lasting prosperity. As a reaction to the problems accrued by capitalism, new development approaches such as the concept of degrowth have evolved.

Degrowth in Tourism explores newly-emerging development and philosophical approaches that provide more equity for host communities and offer a low-carbon future by looking at alternatives to the classic models of development and applying the concept of degrowth in a tourism context.

Proposing that we need to shift tourism research from models which prioritize commodified tourism experiences to those that offer alternative decommodified ones, this book:

- Provides topical analysis and illustrates the key themes of degrowth;
- Discusses the relationship between tourism and degrowth from both a historic perspective and through contemporary patterns of activity;
- Includes international examples and case studies to translate theory into practical new approaches.

A comprehensive review of the subject, this book will be of great interest to researchers and practitioners within tourism, development, environment and economics, as well as those specifically studying degrowth.