Tourism is a pure expression of geography, and geography is the heart of tourism. This book clarifies these relationships extremely well and provides one of the most comprehensive and best-written analyses of the subject I have ever read. I applaud Professor Nelson for making such a complex relationship enjoyable to read and accessible to everyone. This gem belongs on the desk of every serious student and scholar of tourism!

Dallen J. Timothy, Arizona State University

An authoritative introduction to the multifaceted field of tourism. Velvet Nelson’s systematic overview of concepts and theories used within tourism, bolstered by absorbing case studies, supports student learning about an exciting and timely phenomenon that influences communities and individuals all over the world. By approaching tourism from a geographical perspective, Velvet Nelson bridges the divide between tourism and geography, illuminating tourism as an inherently spatial process.

Dieter K. Müller, Umeå University, Sweden

This volume constitutes an excellent resource for any student wishing to study and understand tourism from a geographer’s perspective. In a comprehensive compilation covering four main themes and offering plenty of illustrative examples, Velvet Nelson competently weaves a rich array of geographic perspectives and concepts into an explanation of the workings of global tourism. With plenty of case study descriptions, clearly highlighted in boxes, this textbook is a great resource for introductory courses in the field. The fact that after a decade there is now an even better third edition of this book speaks volumes about its long success as an effective teaching tool.

Dimitri Ioannides, Mid-Sweden University