This comprehensive volume offers an in-depth examination of tourism's economic impact across different regions and scales. Structured in three distinct parts, the book provides a nuanced analysis of tourism's complex economic dimensions.

The first section illuminates tourism's economic contributions through compelling case studies from diverse destinations including Fiji and Andhra Pradesh, India, while also offering new perspectives on political governance and tourism development in leading destinations across Europe, the USA, and China, as well as on the role of electronic games in advancing tourism economies in China. These narratives reveal how tourism shapes local economies and regional development patterns, highlighting both benefits and challenges.

In the second section, readers explore the delicate balance between economic growth and environmental stewardship. Through detailed examples from Tobago and Vietnam, the text addresses critical sustainability challenges facing tourism-dependent economies in today's rapidly changing world, while also considering broader issues such as financial inclusion and tourism’s role in poverty alleviation.

The final section elevates the discussion to a macroeconomic level, analyzing global trends and their far-reaching implications. From financial inclusion to economic policy uncertainty, economies of attention, globalization's effects, air transport regulation, and changing international visitor spending patterns, this section provides essential context for understanding tourism's place in the broader economic landscape.

Essential reading for scholars, policymakers, and industry professionals, this book delivers valuable insights for anyone seeking to navigate the intricate relationship between tourism, economic development, and sustainability in our interconnected world.

The chapters in this book were originally published in Tourism Recreation Research.