Tourism and Regional Development

This Regional Studies Association Research Network is a renewal of the initial Research Network on Tourism, Regional Development and Public Policy

In recent decades tourism has occupied an increasing schizophrenic position in regional development: often sidelined by manufacturing or knowledge-oriented activities, occasionally seen as the great hope for peripheral regions, and more recently as a potential driver of a new experience economy in metropolitan areas, or even as a kind of traditional service clusters.

Descriptive case studies seem to dominate the not-too-large literature on tourism and regional development, and the working group will attempt to further a more theoretically informed perspective, drawing on the interdisciplinary traditions of the RSA and the diverse interests of its members. Among the questions to be taken into account are for instance those related to the conditions of successful and sustainable contribution of tourism in a given region. The problem of adequacy of tourism development as a potential policy instrument will be analysed with regard to the specificity of regions and their development paths. The question of potential conflicts surrounding tourism as a multidimensional and multilocal phenomenon shall be examined to the extent possible.

An examination of tourism diversity from the perspective of regional development will hopefully help to identify current challenges and opportunities in a more systematic manner, and hence provide the basis for a more well-informed integration of tourism in regional development strategies and move beyond political short-termism and buzzword fascination.

Organisers:

• Henrik Halkier, Aalborg University
• Nese Kumral, Ege University
• Marek Kozak, Warsaw University

Future Events:

• Title: Knowledge Dynamics in the Diversification of Mass Tourism: Challenges for European and Mediterranean Destinations, 2nd Workshop
  Date: 25th - 27th January 2012
  Location: Akdeniz University, School of Tourism and Hotel Management, Antalya, Turkey
  Call for Papers
  Registration form: PDF version / Word version
  More information
  
  
• Date: Autumn 2012
  Location: Leeds, UK

Past Events:

• Title: Innovation Processes and Destination Development in Tourist Resorts
  Date: 30th March - 1st April 2011
  Location: Östersund, Sweden
  Organised by Bo Svensson
  ETOUR (European Tourism Research Institute, Mid-Sweden University
  Kunskapens väg 2, 831 25 Östersund, Sweden
  Call for Papers
  Further Information: Workshops, venue, accommodation etc...
  Online registration form
  Abstracts should be submitted to Bo Svensson at bo.svensson@etour.se no later than 31st January 2011