Tourism is integral to local, regional and national development policies; as a major global economic sector, it has the potential to underpin economic growth and wider development. Yet, transformations in both the nature of tourism and the dynamic environment within which it occurs give rise to new questions with regards to its developmental role. This Research Agendaoffers a state-of-the-art review of the research into the tourism-development nexus.

Bringing together contributors from across the globe, this Research Agendaanswers the key questions including: Are growth-focused tourism policies becoming increasingly detrimental to destination development? Can mass forms of tourism in fact generate more benefits than alternative forms of tourism? Does the role of the state in supporting tourism-induced development require reconsideration? How effective is tourism-related philanthropy in contributing to development? Is community-based tourism a realistic development policy? To what extent can tourism contribute to what is still the most pressing development challenge, namely poverty reduction?

A Research Agenda for Tourism and Developmentoffers valuable insights for students and researchers of development studies and tourism, as well as for policymakers and practitioners in tourism industries.