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Urban tourism: Performance and strategies in eight European cities
T¢,urism Managemem. Vol. 17. N o 4. pp. 311 313. 109,'~
Published
Pergamon
by glscvicr Science
lid. Prmlcd in ~.hcal Brilain 02~d-5177/96 $15.1111 + I).O0
Book reviews Urban Tourism: Performance and Strategies in Eight European Cities Leo van den Berg, Jan van dcr Borg and Jan w m d e r Meer Aveburv, Ahtershot (19951 226 pp £32.50 This book is a valuable addition to the rapidly growing literature on urban tourism. It is particularly welcome because of its European focus and the comparative nature of the research it describes. Much of what has been written on the subject to date has involved individual case studies, spread through periodicals across a wide range of disciplines, or has a North American bias. It is therefore useful to have, within one book, a comparative study of urban tourism, focusing on performance and strategies in eight European cities. The publisher's notes suggest that the book is aimed at the postgraduate research and academic library market but, because of the applied nature of the research it covers, the practical insights and descriptions of strategy should make it also interesting to public seclor phmners and managers of tourisnL The applied nature of the research is explained by the fact that it was commissioned by an urban planning agency interested in developing tourism within its own jurisdiction. The book contains the results of research undertaken by the European Institute for ('omparativc Urban Research (I~[JRICUR) for the Rotterdam City Development Corporation. Eight European cities (Antwerp, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Genoa, Glasgow, Ilamburg, t,yons and Rotterdam) arc taken as case studies to exanfinc the contribution of leisure activities and tourism to the revitalization of urban regions. "File researchers have gone to obvious pains to interview a representative cross-section of tourism pro-
fessionals in each of the cities and to include both public and private sector viewpoints. There is a helpful appcndix in which all the interviewees from the individual cities are listed by name and organization so there is the option of readers following up any particularly intriguing findings from the study. The book begins with a short introduction which sets out the rationale for research into urban tourism in Europe. it establishes that the ultimate objective of the research and the book is, through comparative analysis, "to find out what conditions tourist strategies and policies nmst satisfy for an optimum contribution of tourism to urban revitalisation' (p 2). In other words the key goal is the identification of a model or models of good practice. The second chapter notes the already well-rehearsed arguments about why urban areas either have adopted or are considering developing urban tourism as a component of their restructuring strategies, it also contains the "theory" section in which a helpful model outlining the principal relations in the urban tourism system is presented. This model is a useful device for integrating the wtrious strategies adopted and is referred to in the majority of the reports on individual cities. One particularly pleasing aspect of the book is its tight and systematic structure. The authors" decision to adopt a common format and sequence when presenting the results from the research in the cities makes it easy to quickly absorb key details about each city and make comparisons between places. Each city is allocated a chapter but within every case study chapter the information is given in roughly the same order. [:or each city, each of the following aspects is described: a profile of the urban region: urban policy; specific details of the city as a tourist destination: tourist product: accom-
311
modation: tourist policy and organization: prospects for the future: and finally, conclusions. The book's final chapter summarizes and draws conclusions from the research. At 21 pages it is roughly the same length as the chapters dealing with individual cities. Surprisingly though it "feels" shorter than ttlis and in a way this section is disappointing after the meatier content which has preceded it. Largely because of the value and richness of the data presented through the case studies an expectation is btfilt up that this synthesizing discussion would be more substantive titan transpires. Perhaps paradoxically this apparent shortcoming of the book may bc interpreted as one of its strengths: readers are left to draw their own conclusions and are left with a set of further intriguing questions about this challenging area of urban policy analysis and tourism research. One last cotnmcnt must, in all honesty, be pointed out to potential purchasers of this tcxl. In terms of academic and professional wdue the hook scores highly becausc of tile quality of thc information and insights it provides. In terms of ',aluc for money it scores much lower. ~1he lack of editorial input is painfully obvious and a serious drawback. The text is sloppily copy-edited arm poorly translated from the original Dutch. Especially puzzling is the absence of maps from the casc studies, which would have grcatly enhanced the understanding of some of lilt? spatial issues which arc central to thi:s area of tourism research. Despite these observations this book can be recommended for both scholars and practitioners. The author/ research team and the study's sponsors are to be praised in particular for the generosity of spirit in which the findings are offered for scrutiny by a wider audience. Perhaps this publication
Book reviews marks a coming of age for urban tourism. Could it be that the days of urban tourism research and evaluation being dominated by the 'closed' world of private consultants' reports (noted by the pioneering analyst of urban tourism, Christopher Law) are on the wane and we can look forward to healthier and more transparent research in this area?
Jane Lutz Centre for Urban and Regional Studies The University of Birmingham Birmingham B15 2TT, UK Coopetition: Global Tourism beyond the Millennium David L Edgell, Sr and R Todd Haenisch
International Policy Publishing Kansas City MI (1995) 148 pp $18.95 The title of the book, 'Coopetition', places a name on a process and an attitude that must prevail if tourism is to become the giant industry that the authors and others forecast. The final tourism product - the satisfying experience sought by tourists - is provided by many individuals, firms and agencies. Only by these groups working together can tourism succeed, and by realizing that if one of them fails to provide the level of service expected the contribution of all of the others is diminished. Two statements in the preface describe the philosophy behind the book: A basic purpose of this publication is to inform and update the reader on the complex nature of tourism and the immense mechanisms of its implementation. (p ix) This publication deliberately is as brief and non-technical as possible to appeal to a broad spectrum of interest in tourism; it is designed to provide . . . an introduction and examination of the most important issues in tourism and its many components. (p x) The book is divided into seven chapters and a lengthy reference section. Emphasis throughout the publication is on international tourism with little, if any, attention given to domestic tourism. In a book looking at tourism into the next century the division into the traditional breaks of international
312
and domestic is unfortunate. For most countries domestic tourism is the backbone of the industry and the development of tourism must be geared to all visitors, not just the foreign ones. The implications of any forecast growth in domestic tourism must be considered along with those for international arrivals. The first five chapters deal with the critical issues facing tourism today. The authors examine international tourism in international agreements, as an economic and commercial activity, as an element of political and foreign policy, as well as the sociocultural aspects and the move to sustainable tourism development. These chapters cover a broad range of issues. They are very descriptive and very up-beat and they are a 'must' read for anyone involved in tourism. Chapter VI deals with projections and implications of tourism beyond the year 2000 and Chapter VII deals with conclusions and recommendations. While some of the forecasts seem overly optimistic, eg a growth in international tourist arrivals in the United States from 46.2 million in 1995 to 57.5 million in 2000, an increase of nearly 25%, there should be little doubt that tourism in both its international and domestic phases will continue to grow. The implications of growth rates of this order for the physical plant are great. These implications are recognized in such general statements as 'construction of hotels, restaurants and attractions will continue' (p 110) but little attention is paid to the impact of developrfient of this magnitude on communities. The final chapter defines issues that need solution but does not offer any specific suggestions on how their resolution is to be effected. This chapter should provide a sound starting point for serious thinking about the future of tourism. The book ends with a plea for an international tourism creed based on coopetition, which is seen as a management tool which integrates the many benefits of tourism with people, countries and continents to improve the global quality of life and provide a foundation for understanding, peace and prosperity.
The authors have brought together in one small volume a vast array of tourism information that will provide the basis for advocating the type of cooperation and competition that they see as desirable. The next step must be a clear elucidation of how the cooperation is to be achieved. We are given all the reasons why coopetition is necessary; we are left with little idea of how it can be achieved. The length and breadth of the reference list, some 240 items, is to be commended. It will provide the basis, particularly for students and academics, for the development of an up-to-date tourism library. For the more general reader it should demonstrate the amount of material that is available to assist them in understanding the complexities of tourism. The book can be criticized for omission of some of the discussion that might have been included, but it has met its basic objective of providing the reader with an up-to-date statement on the current situation as it applies to international tourism.
Gordon D Taylor 715 Mooney's Bay Place Ottawa, ON, Canada K1V 8W4
Managing Employee Relations in the Hotel and Catering Industry R Lucas
Cassell London (1995) 317 pp £45 hbk/£16.99 pbk The purpose of this book is to examine employee relations in the context of the special characteristics of the hotel and catering industry. The approach is to introduce the reader to issues in employee relations through short discursive explorations backed up by extensive referencing. Indeed, it is a stated secondary aim of the text to provide a comprehensive review of the literature. In this latter respect the book is very successful. It is an excellent source book. The text is organized in three parts, which are, first, a conceptual framework which is set out and then applied to broad issues and trends in the industry. Second, the particulars of work, decision making, organiza-
Published
Pergamon
by glscvicr Science
lid. Prmlcd in ~.hcal Brilain 02~d-5177/96 $15.1111 + I).O0
Book reviews Urban Tourism: Performance and Strategies in Eight European Cities Leo van den Berg, Jan van dcr Borg and Jan w m d e r Meer Aveburv, Ahtershot (19951 226 pp £32.50 This book is a valuable addition to the rapidly growing literature on urban tourism. It is particularly welcome because of its European focus and the comparative nature of the research it describes. Much of what has been written on the subject to date has involved individual case studies, spread through periodicals across a wide range of disciplines, or has a North American bias. It is therefore useful to have, within one book, a comparative study of urban tourism, focusing on performance and strategies in eight European cities. The publisher's notes suggest that the book is aimed at the postgraduate research and academic library market but, because of the applied nature of the research it covers, the practical insights and descriptions of strategy should make it also interesting to public seclor phmners and managers of tourisnL The applied nature of the research is explained by the fact that it was commissioned by an urban planning agency interested in developing tourism within its own jurisdiction. The book contains the results of research undertaken by the European Institute for ('omparativc Urban Research (I~[JRICUR) for the Rotterdam City Development Corporation. Eight European cities (Antwerp, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Genoa, Glasgow, Ilamburg, t,yons and Rotterdam) arc taken as case studies to exanfinc the contribution of leisure activities and tourism to the revitalization of urban regions. "File researchers have gone to obvious pains to interview a representative cross-section of tourism pro-
fessionals in each of the cities and to include both public and private sector viewpoints. There is a helpful appcndix in which all the interviewees from the individual cities are listed by name and organization so there is the option of readers following up any particularly intriguing findings from the study. The book begins with a short introduction which sets out the rationale for research into urban tourism in Europe. it establishes that the ultimate objective of the research and the book is, through comparative analysis, "to find out what conditions tourist strategies and policies nmst satisfy for an optimum contribution of tourism to urban revitalisation' (p 2). In other words the key goal is the identification of a model or models of good practice. The second chapter notes the already well-rehearsed arguments about why urban areas either have adopted or are considering developing urban tourism as a component of their restructuring strategies, it also contains the "theory" section in which a helpful model outlining the principal relations in the urban tourism system is presented. This model is a useful device for integrating the wtrious strategies adopted and is referred to in the majority of the reports on individual cities. One particularly pleasing aspect of the book is its tight and systematic structure. The authors" decision to adopt a common format and sequence when presenting the results from the research in the cities makes it easy to quickly absorb key details about each city and make comparisons between places. Each city is allocated a chapter but within every case study chapter the information is given in roughly the same order. [:or each city, each of the following aspects is described: a profile of the urban region: urban policy; specific details of the city as a tourist destination: tourist product: accom-
311
modation: tourist policy and organization: prospects for the future: and finally, conclusions. The book's final chapter summarizes and draws conclusions from the research. At 21 pages it is roughly the same length as the chapters dealing with individual cities. Surprisingly though it "feels" shorter than ttlis and in a way this section is disappointing after the meatier content which has preceded it. Largely because of the value and richness of the data presented through the case studies an expectation is btfilt up that this synthesizing discussion would be more substantive titan transpires. Perhaps paradoxically this apparent shortcoming of the book may bc interpreted as one of its strengths: readers are left to draw their own conclusions and are left with a set of further intriguing questions about this challenging area of urban policy analysis and tourism research. One last cotnmcnt must, in all honesty, be pointed out to potential purchasers of this tcxl. In terms of academic and professional wdue the hook scores highly becausc of tile quality of thc information and insights it provides. In terms of ',aluc for money it scores much lower. ~1he lack of editorial input is painfully obvious and a serious drawback. The text is sloppily copy-edited arm poorly translated from the original Dutch. Especially puzzling is the absence of maps from the casc studies, which would have grcatly enhanced the understanding of some of lilt? spatial issues which arc central to thi:s area of tourism research. Despite these observations this book can be recommended for both scholars and practitioners. The author/ research team and the study's sponsors are to be praised in particular for the generosity of spirit in which the findings are offered for scrutiny by a wider audience. Perhaps this publication
Book reviews marks a coming of age for urban tourism. Could it be that the days of urban tourism research and evaluation being dominated by the 'closed' world of private consultants' reports (noted by the pioneering analyst of urban tourism, Christopher Law) are on the wane and we can look forward to healthier and more transparent research in this area?
Jane Lutz Centre for Urban and Regional Studies The University of Birmingham Birmingham B15 2TT, UK Coopetition: Global Tourism beyond the Millennium David L Edgell, Sr and R Todd Haenisch
International Policy Publishing Kansas City MI (1995) 148 pp $18.95 The title of the book, 'Coopetition', places a name on a process and an attitude that must prevail if tourism is to become the giant industry that the authors and others forecast. The final tourism product - the satisfying experience sought by tourists - is provided by many individuals, firms and agencies. Only by these groups working together can tourism succeed, and by realizing that if one of them fails to provide the level of service expected the contribution of all of the others is diminished. Two statements in the preface describe the philosophy behind the book: A basic purpose of this publication is to inform and update the reader on the complex nature of tourism and the immense mechanisms of its implementation. (p ix) This publication deliberately is as brief and non-technical as possible to appeal to a broad spectrum of interest in tourism; it is designed to provide . . . an introduction and examination of the most important issues in tourism and its many components. (p x) The book is divided into seven chapters and a lengthy reference section. Emphasis throughout the publication is on international tourism with little, if any, attention given to domestic tourism. In a book looking at tourism into the next century the division into the traditional breaks of international
312
and domestic is unfortunate. For most countries domestic tourism is the backbone of the industry and the development of tourism must be geared to all visitors, not just the foreign ones. The implications of any forecast growth in domestic tourism must be considered along with those for international arrivals. The first five chapters deal with the critical issues facing tourism today. The authors examine international tourism in international agreements, as an economic and commercial activity, as an element of political and foreign policy, as well as the sociocultural aspects and the move to sustainable tourism development. These chapters cover a broad range of issues. They are very descriptive and very up-beat and they are a 'must' read for anyone involved in tourism. Chapter VI deals with projections and implications of tourism beyond the year 2000 and Chapter VII deals with conclusions and recommendations. While some of the forecasts seem overly optimistic, eg a growth in international tourist arrivals in the United States from 46.2 million in 1995 to 57.5 million in 2000, an increase of nearly 25%, there should be little doubt that tourism in both its international and domestic phases will continue to grow. The implications of growth rates of this order for the physical plant are great. These implications are recognized in such general statements as 'construction of hotels, restaurants and attractions will continue' (p 110) but little attention is paid to the impact of developrfient of this magnitude on communities. The final chapter defines issues that need solution but does not offer any specific suggestions on how their resolution is to be effected. This chapter should provide a sound starting point for serious thinking about the future of tourism. The book ends with a plea for an international tourism creed based on coopetition, which is seen as a management tool which integrates the many benefits of tourism with people, countries and continents to improve the global quality of life and provide a foundation for understanding, peace and prosperity.
The authors have brought together in one small volume a vast array of tourism information that will provide the basis for advocating the type of cooperation and competition that they see as desirable. The next step must be a clear elucidation of how the cooperation is to be achieved. We are given all the reasons why coopetition is necessary; we are left with little idea of how it can be achieved. The length and breadth of the reference list, some 240 items, is to be commended. It will provide the basis, particularly for students and academics, for the development of an up-to-date tourism library. For the more general reader it should demonstrate the amount of material that is available to assist them in understanding the complexities of tourism. The book can be criticized for omission of some of the discussion that might have been included, but it has met its basic objective of providing the reader with an up-to-date statement on the current situation as it applies to international tourism.
Gordon D Taylor 715 Mooney's Bay Place Ottawa, ON, Canada K1V 8W4
Managing Employee Relations in the Hotel and Catering Industry R Lucas
Cassell London (1995) 317 pp £45 hbk/£16.99 pbk The purpose of this book is to examine employee relations in the context of the special characteristics of the hotel and catering industry. The approach is to introduce the reader to issues in employee relations through short discursive explorations backed up by extensive referencing. Indeed, it is a stated secondary aim of the text to provide a comprehensive review of the literature. In this latter respect the book is very successful. It is an excellent source book. The text is organized in three parts, which are, first, a conceptual framework which is set out and then applied to broad issues and trends in the industry. Second, the particulars of work, decision making, organiza-