Tourist visits used to be a less common activity in the past. However, more people than ever now make leisure trips, making this an era of mass tourism. This drastic change in spatial behaviour is not only caused by economic prosperity, but the scale of this phenomenon means that it is able to generate economic growth, making tourism a key factor in regional development policy. One of the main challenges of current regional policy is to market the attractiveness of an area, thereby increasing tourist visits and subsequent revenue. In particular, regions are attempting this through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), which offer information on interesting places, and efficient methods for organizing and booking trips. This book examines the interconnections between tourism, ICT and regional development. Bringing together a range of European case studies illustrating various ICT and policy innovations, it not only critiques current activity by regions in terms of tourism development, but also considers how this sector is likely to continue to grow.

’Tourism is increasingly a strategic key factor for economic growth. With penetrating intellect and vision, Giaoutzi and Nijkamp examine the interconnections between tourism, ICT and regional development. All those seeking to enhance their understanding of this complex subject would do well to read this book.’ Professor Yoshiro Higano, University of Tsukuba, Japan ’Tourism and Regional Development is a tour de force explaining how ICT is amplifying travel demand and revolutionizing destination marketing, investment, and management, and in turn the behavior of the tourist. The book provides solid new information on trends, methods of analysis and current policy strategies used by regions to enhance the competitiveness of this sector and its destinations.’ Professor Roger R. Stough, NOVA Endowed Chair, Eminent Scholar, George Mason University, USA

Maria Giaoutzi is Professor of Geography and Regional Planning at the National Technical University of Athens, Greece. Peter Nijkamp is Professor in the Department of Spatial Economics, Free University, The Netherlands.