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Tourism Today: A Geographical Analysis
PUBLICATIONS
737
IN REVIEW
This review may appear uncommonly harsh on a book that, from the accounts on its jacket, has been well received by many in the US market. This severity is less from a sense that the book is “poor” than that its objectives and breadth are too courageous, leaving the reader either over-faced by its breadth (if less able), or frustrated at where to go for more detail, if more academic. It is both textbook and general hospitality primer, aimed at both the graduate student and the bell-hop, proclaiming a global perspective yet with a North American bias. In the end the superb writing style and opportunities offered by such a book are wasted by attempting to be all these things, yet managing to be none. lJ 0 Joseph Fattorini: The Scottish Hotel School, University of Struthclyde, Glasgow G4 OLG, United Kingdom. Assigned 11 January 1995 Submitted 15 August 1995 Resubmitted 5 September 1995 Accepted 12 September 1995
Tourism Today: A Geographical
Analysis
By Douglas Pearce. Longman (Longman House, Burnt Hill, Harlow Essex CM20 2JE, UK) 2nd ed., 1995, xii + 201 pp. (tables, figures, references, and author, subject and place indexes) E16.99 (paper). ISBN 0-582-22822-O.
Massey
University-Albany,
Keith Dewar New Zealand
The long association between geography and tourism is clearly expressed in this second edition of Tourism Today. The book provides a systematic approach to the geographical dimensions of tourism. The underlying framework is based on the origin-enroute-destination system’s model. Although the model is sometimes hard to see in the general context of the book, it still provides a useful framework. Considering the disparate body of literature that the author was required to work with, the book is generally wellpresented and organized in a logical manner. The material is divided into 10 chapters. The first deals with major methods and models geographers have used to study tourism. In many ways, this is the only chapter that appears out of place with the expressed themes and direction of the book. As the author notes, the materials covered in this first chapter are not the bases for most of the case studies outlined in the remainder of the book (p. 17). It begs the question why, then, are these models included, particularly in the introduction? Perhaps this theoretical material should have been placed at the end of the book or interspersed throughout the chapters. The opening chapter is followed by material on motivation and tourist flow from the tourism generating regions. Chapters 3-5 discuss, with clear simple examples, tourism flows at different scales from global, to intranational, to domestic. Well-balanced examples are presented and well referenced so readers can easily follow up the various arguments and information. The degree of depth in the author’s bibliography is a key feature of the book. The emphasis then shifts to studies of destination regions.
738
PUBLICATIONS
IN REVIEW
Chapter 6 gives an overview of spatial variations. This variation is then discussed in depth at the national and regional levels then Chapters 8 and 9 look at specific types of tourism regions including islands, urban areas, and coastal resorts. The final chapter summarizes the previously discussed material under the headings of concentration, spatial interaction, and scale. It is interesting that there are at least two references to the lack of emphases on tourism in rural and alpine areas (pp. 136 and 165). It is never clearly stated why the lack of emphasis but after covering urban, coastal, and island areas, a similar amount of space dedicated to rural tourism would have been welcome. Overall the material is well chosen and clearly presented. The case studies and examples have been carefully selected to give the book a cosmopolitan appeal. In this it has succeeded well, and would be a useful text in many countries. For those readers who are familiar with the first edition, it is good to see that the diagrams and maps have been improved. Geographical theory is also updated and appropriate new material has been added. It is unfortunate that many of the most complex diagrams are so small. Considering that the number of pages in the current edition have been reduced, it is annoying that some complex diagrams are hard to read. Their size and complexity may be off-putting for undergraduate readers, particularly those without a strong geographical awareness. This work is well on its way to becoming a classic. For tertiary students in their second or third year of geography, this would be an excellent course text. It is perhaps less appropriate as a course text for non-geography tourism students but should still be on everyone’s “recommended” reading list. Academics at all levels with an interest in geography, tourism and related fields will find this a most useful reference. Douglas Pearce is to be commended for a fine effort. Cl 0
Assigned IO August 1995 Submitted 21 September 1995 Accepted 30 October 1995
737
IN REVIEW
This review may appear uncommonly harsh on a book that, from the accounts on its jacket, has been well received by many in the US market. This severity is less from a sense that the book is “poor” than that its objectives and breadth are too courageous, leaving the reader either over-faced by its breadth (if less able), or frustrated at where to go for more detail, if more academic. It is both textbook and general hospitality primer, aimed at both the graduate student and the bell-hop, proclaiming a global perspective yet with a North American bias. In the end the superb writing style and opportunities offered by such a book are wasted by attempting to be all these things, yet managing to be none. lJ 0 Joseph Fattorini: The Scottish Hotel School, University of Struthclyde, Glasgow G4 OLG, United Kingdom. Assigned 11 January 1995 Submitted 15 August 1995 Resubmitted 5 September 1995 Accepted 12 September 1995
Tourism Today: A Geographical
Analysis
By Douglas Pearce. Longman (Longman House, Burnt Hill, Harlow Essex CM20 2JE, UK) 2nd ed., 1995, xii + 201 pp. (tables, figures, references, and author, subject and place indexes) E16.99 (paper). ISBN 0-582-22822-O.
Massey
University-Albany,
Keith Dewar New Zealand
The long association between geography and tourism is clearly expressed in this second edition of Tourism Today. The book provides a systematic approach to the geographical dimensions of tourism. The underlying framework is based on the origin-enroute-destination system’s model. Although the model is sometimes hard to see in the general context of the book, it still provides a useful framework. Considering the disparate body of literature that the author was required to work with, the book is generally wellpresented and organized in a logical manner. The material is divided into 10 chapters. The first deals with major methods and models geographers have used to study tourism. In many ways, this is the only chapter that appears out of place with the expressed themes and direction of the book. As the author notes, the materials covered in this first chapter are not the bases for most of the case studies outlined in the remainder of the book (p. 17). It begs the question why, then, are these models included, particularly in the introduction? Perhaps this theoretical material should have been placed at the end of the book or interspersed throughout the chapters. The opening chapter is followed by material on motivation and tourist flow from the tourism generating regions. Chapters 3-5 discuss, with clear simple examples, tourism flows at different scales from global, to intranational, to domestic. Well-balanced examples are presented and well referenced so readers can easily follow up the various arguments and information. The degree of depth in the author’s bibliography is a key feature of the book. The emphasis then shifts to studies of destination regions.
738
PUBLICATIONS
IN REVIEW
Chapter 6 gives an overview of spatial variations. This variation is then discussed in depth at the national and regional levels then Chapters 8 and 9 look at specific types of tourism regions including islands, urban areas, and coastal resorts. The final chapter summarizes the previously discussed material under the headings of concentration, spatial interaction, and scale. It is interesting that there are at least two references to the lack of emphases on tourism in rural and alpine areas (pp. 136 and 165). It is never clearly stated why the lack of emphasis but after covering urban, coastal, and island areas, a similar amount of space dedicated to rural tourism would have been welcome. Overall the material is well chosen and clearly presented. The case studies and examples have been carefully selected to give the book a cosmopolitan appeal. In this it has succeeded well, and would be a useful text in many countries. For those readers who are familiar with the first edition, it is good to see that the diagrams and maps have been improved. Geographical theory is also updated and appropriate new material has been added. It is unfortunate that many of the most complex diagrams are so small. Considering that the number of pages in the current edition have been reduced, it is annoying that some complex diagrams are hard to read. Their size and complexity may be off-putting for undergraduate readers, particularly those without a strong geographical awareness. This work is well on its way to becoming a classic. For tertiary students in their second or third year of geography, this would be an excellent course text. It is perhaps less appropriate as a course text for non-geography tourism students but should still be on everyone’s “recommended” reading list. Academics at all levels with an interest in geography, tourism and related fields will find this a most useful reference. Douglas Pearce is to be commended for a fine effort. Cl 0
Assigned IO August 1995 Submitted 21 September 1995 Accepted 30 October 1995