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12 Must-Read Books About the Tourism Industry

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16 min.

With hundreds of books about the tourism industry, you might find it hard to decide which one to read next. The tourism industry books cover a wide variety of topics. The best way to find an interesting read is to choose one that addresses the topic that you find interesting.

To help you, we put together a list of must-read books about the tourism industry. Below you can find relevant information about every book we included, such as a short description, ratings, price, and why you should read it.

Tourism Economy

It’s always interesting to look at tourism as an economy. The following books will help you expand your knowledge of the tourism economy.

Sustainable Tourism Supply Chain Management

Sustainable Tourism Supply Chain Management

Author: Sudhanshu Yoshi

First edition date: Release scheduled for October 1, 2022

Number of editions: 1

Goodreads rating: N/A

Amazon rating: N/A

Price on Amazon: Pre-order price $149.99

While scheduled for release in 2022, you should have your eyes on this book. The author is focused on sustainable supply chain management and sustainable tourism management in general. The book offers in-depth explanations of the aspect of the supply chain that continuously becomes more complex with every passing year. 

Why we chose it: We chose this book because it’s the first book that provides a comprehensive analysis of the effects policies and strategies have on the sustainable tourism supply chain

Things we don’t like: If you are not familiar with the concepts of sustainable tourism management, you might find this book hard to read, as it assumes that you have an extensive background in this field.

Tourism Policy and Planning: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Tourism Policy and Planning: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Author: David L. Edgell, Jason R. Swanson, Ginger Smith, Jason Swanson, and David L. Edgell Sr.

First edition date: May 1, 2018

Number of editions: 3

Goodreads rating: N/A

Amazon rating: 4.3/5

Price on Amazon: Hardcover $173.27, Paperback $52.85

The book explains the connection between tourism policies and strategic tourism planning. The authors explain in great detail the entire tourism policy process and how it affects planning on all levels, including local, national, and international. 

Why we chose it: The book is perfect for people interested in the tourism policy process, and the latest edition addresses some new interesting topics such as terrorism and sustainable tourism. It also introduces new case studies. 

Things we don’t like: While the book addresses many concepts of policies and strategic planning, it is still considered an introduction, rendering it less valuable for experts on the subject. 

Travel Industry Economics: A Guide for Financial Analysis

Travel Industry Economics: A Guide for Financial Analysis

Author: Harold L. Vogel

First edition date: January 15, 2001

Number of editions: 4

Goodreads rating: 3/5

Amazon rating: 3/5

Price on Amazon: Hardcover $97.31, Paperback $99.99

The book closely examines all components of the travel sector, such as marketing, hotels, airlines, tourism, theme parks, and cruise lines. It provides reviews, historical performance, and analysis of every sector, making it a must-read for travel professionals interested in the financial aspect of their operation.  

Why we chose it: We chose this book because the author regularly publishes new editions with updated information. For instance, the latest edition analyses the impact big data, emerging technologies, and pandemics have on the tourism sector. 

Things we don’t like: The book is a comprehensive guide for travel companies interested in improving financial performance and marketing. It addresses complex concepts from the start, so it’s not beginner-friendly.

Transforming Travel: Realizing the Potential of Sustainable Tourism

Transforming Travel: Realizing the Potential of Sustainable Tourism

Author: Jeremy Smith

First edition date: December 19, 2017

Number of editions: 1

Goodreads rating: 4/5

Amazon rating: 4.5/5

Price on Amazon: Paperback $30.75

The author features the success stories of the most innovative travel business across the world. The book is all about the benefits of sustainable tourism, and the common challenges travel companies and hotels face when deciding to go sustainable.

Why we chose it: We chose this book because it enables you to gather deep insights from the case studies. There are also very interesting stories from pioneers and thinkers in sustainable tourism. The book also helps readers discover the most efficient ways to promote sustainable tourism even in emerging economies.

Things we don’t like: While the book highlights some successful examples of sustainable tourism, the examples are somewhat outdated, and the book deserves a 2nd edition to bring new best practices to light. 

Tourism Technology

As one of the fastest-growing sectors, tourism heavily relies on various technologies. Here are the books that cover tourism technology.

How Robots Can Bring Positive Emotion: To Travelers

How Robots Can Bring Positive Emotion: To Travelers

Author: John Lok

First edition date: January 27, 2022

Number of editions: 1

Goodreads rating: N/A

Amazon rating: N/A

Price on Amazon: Paperback $14.62

The future of AI use in the travel sector is now. This book explains the key role of AI and Big Data in the tourism industry. It enables the readers to truly understand the impact of emerging technologies and how they can help organisations predict shifts in the target market and changes in consumer behaviour. 

Why we chose it: We chose this book because it is a rare find in the Books About Tourism Industry category. The book tackles some of the most exciting implementations of AI in the sector, such as building positive customer experiences and emotions.

Things we don’t like: While the book enables the readers to understand the importance of using AI and big data to create positive experiences, it doesn’t showcase case studies and positive outcomes of implementing AI and big data. 

An SPSS Guide for Tourism, Hospitality, and Events Researchers

An SPSS Guide for Tourism, Hospitality, and Events Researchers

Author: Rahul Pratap Singh Kaurav, Dogan Gursoy, and Nimit Chowdhary

First edition date: December 15, 2020

Number of editions: 1

Goodreads rating: N/A

Amazon rating: N/A

Price on Amazon: Hardcover $155.58, Paperback $44.95

The book provides everything a reader has to know about SPSS, a statistical analytics software, to undertake analysis of data at any scale. The book helps readers identify the best statistical method for specific research and delivers step-by-step instructions.

Why we chose it: We chose this book because it’s the first book that enables researchers in the field of tourism to use big data to identify patterns and trends and draw actionable insights. 

Things we don’t like: The book provides highly technical knowledge, and unless you have data scientists or analysts on your team, you won’t be able to make much use of it.

Tourism Information Technology

Tourism Information Technology

Author: Pierre J Benckendorff, Zheng Xiang, Pauline J Sheldon

First edition date: November 14, 2017

Number of editions: 3

Goodreads rating: N/A

Amazon rating: 4.6/5

Price on Amazon: Paperback $53.42

Tourism Information Technology outlines all the challenges of using technology in the tourism sector. It goes through various information technology use cases in the travel sector. It covers tech used in destinations, airlines, accommodation, and travel intermediaries. 

Why we chose it: We chose this book because it’s organized to reflect the stages of the traveler’s journey. It outlines how travelers interact with technologies during the decision-making process. 

Things we don’t like: The book is intended for students, and we don’t like that it also focuses on outdated technology solutions which you have to go through to discover the modern technologies in use today. 

Advances in Tourism, Technology and Systems: Selected Papers from ICOTTS20 Vol 1 and 2

Advances in Tourism, Technology and Systems: Selected Papers from ICOTTS20 Vol 1 and 2

Author: João Vidal de Carvalho, Álvaro Rocha, Pedro Liberato, Alejandro Peña

First edition date: November 16, 2020

Number of editions: 1

Goodreads rating: N/A

Amazon rating: N/A

Price on Amazon: Hardcover $14.60

This book is a collection of research papers presented at ICOTTS 2020. The research paper covers various topics ranging from information technology use in tourism in general to the digital transformation of the tourism business. It also outlines a few studies on how big data and robotics changed the sector.

Why we chose it: The researchers presented at ICOTTS provide valuable insights into technology use in tourism. It’s one of the best resources to stay tuned to the latest technology use cases, best practices, and outcomes.

Things we don’t like: This is not a classic book which makes it harder to consume, especially for readers not used to skimming through research papers.

Tourism Marketing

In case you want to find out more about tourism marketing, the following books will help you learn and discover interesting facts and strategies.

Marketing Tourist Destinations in Emerging Economies

Author:  Ishmael Mensah, Kandappan Balasubramanian, Mohd Raziff Jamaluddin, Gina Alcoriza, Vanessa Gaffar, and S. Mostafa Rasoolimanesh

First edition date: November 28, 2021

Number of editions: 1

Goodreads rating: N/A

Amazon rating: N/A

Price on Amazon: Hardcover $169.99

The book helps readers identify and understand the risks that can derail tourism in emerging economies. More importantly, it offers marketing strategies and best practices that businesses in the hotel industry and hospitality industry can use to flourish in emerging economies

Why we chose it: The countries with emerging economies can leverage tourism as an economic generator. We chose this book because it provides practical marketing advice to travel industry organizations in emerging economies.

Things we don’t like: The book is focused on destination and crisis management and marketing during pandemics. Readers that are familiar with these concepts might find the book a less valuable read.

Marketing Handbook for Health Tourism

Marketing Handbook for Health Tourism

Author: Irving L Stackpole and László Puczkó

First edition date: February 18, 2021

Number of editions: 1

Goodreads rating

Amazon rating: 4.1/5

Price on Amazon: Paperback $48.50

Marketing Handbook for Health Tourism provides actionable insights for destination managers and health, wellness, and medical service providers. It also features examples and practical advice to health tourism professionals who want to attract more travelers and establish themselves as trustworthy service providers. 

Why we chose it: We chose this book because it offers practical advice to niche audiences. Given that health tourism is becoming popular, knowing what to do and how to do it is very important if you want to stay competitive. 

Things we don’t like: While the book offers case studies and practical advice, there is still more ground to cover, and health tourism organizations might need more data to make informed decisions.

Future of Tourism Marketing

Author:  Seongseop (Sam) Kim and Dan Wang

First edition date: June 15, 2021

Number of editions: 1

Goodreads rating: N/A

Amazon rating: N/A

Price on Amazon: Hardcover $164.34

Future of Tourism Marketing is a comprehensive read tackling the topic of digital marketing tools used in the tourism sector. The book outlines the most recent advancements in information technology and how they impact the marketing strategies for businesses in this vertical.

Why we chose it: We chose this book because it even addresses the use of emerging technologies such as AI, VR, GIS systems, and robots in tourism marketing.

Things we don’t like: The only thing we don’t like about this book is its price point which is quite high compared to some other titles on our list.

Marketing for Tourism, Hospitality & Events: A Global & Digital Approach

Marketing for Tourism, Hospitality & Events: A Global & Digital Approach

Author: Simon Hudson and Louise Hudson

First edition date: August 9, 2017

Number of editions: 1

Goodreads rating: 4.33/5

Amazon rating: 4.3/5

Price on Amazon: Hardcover $158.55, Paperback $58.54

Marketing for Tourism, Hospitality & Events: A Global & Digital Approach addresses two major topics. First, it emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the shift in tourism demographics. And it follows by addressing modern tourism marketing strategies and the value of personalized messaging and offers.

Why we chose it: We like that the authors shared their personal experiences and insights while also providing relevant tourism marketing case studies and outcomes.

Things we don’t like: We didn’t like that authors often disclose tourism marketing theories but don’t provide more data such as diagrams and tables to support their claims.

Tourism Industry

If you are interested in reading books covering various topics in the tourism industry in general, you will find the following titles quite interesting and engaging.

The Meaning of Luxury in Tourism, Hospitality & Events

The Meaning of Luxury in Tourism, Hospitality & Events

Author: John Swarbrooke

First edition date: January 24, 2018

Number of editions: 1

Goodreads rating: 5/5

Amazon rating: 4.6/5

Price on Amazon: Hardcover $76.20, Paperback $49.67

As the title suggests, this book takes a closer look at the concept of luxury. It takes readers across the tourism industry globally. Its focus is on the concept of luxury in the industry and how it changes the sector. It also takes into account sustainability challenges and technological innovations as factors that change the concept of luxury.

Why we chose it: We chose this book because it features a dozen case studies, thus helping the readers truly understand the impact of a wide range of factors on luxury in tourism

Things we don’t like: Given that the book mainly focuses on case studies, you might find it hard to go through in one go.

The Elephant Tourism Business

The Elephant Tourism Business

Author:  Eric Laws, Noel Scott, Xavier Font, and John Koldowski

First edition date: December 23, 2020

Number of editions: 1

Goodreads rating: N/A

Amazon rating: N/A

Price on Amazon: Hardcover $12.88

This book is for people involved in elephant tourism, which is a dominant sector in many countries, including India. It brings into perspective the improvements organizations can make to enhance tourists’ experiences of elephant tourism. The book also outlines the marketing strategies elephant tourism organizations can use to efficiently promote activities. 

Why we chose it: This book provides a better understanding of the elephant tourism business, and it’s the only one of its kind published in recent years. Given how important this tourism sector is in some countries, we decide to include it as it addresses several key aspects of elephant tourism. 

Things we don’t like: Many sections of the book are written for veterinarians and policymakers, making finding chapters relevant to tourism organizations somewhat hard. 

Tourism Theory: Concepts, Models, and Systems

Tourism Theory: Concepts, Models, and Systems

Author:  Gui Lohmann and Alexandre Panosso Netto

First edition date: December 19, 2016

Number of editions: 3

Goodreads rating: N/A

Amazon rating: N/A

Price on Amazon: Hardcover $107.05, Paperback $63.12

This book addresses tourism as a field of study. It covers all essential aspects of tourism, ranging from concepts and disciplines to market analysis and marketing. The book also addresses the most common multi-destination travel patterns and high-season destination management. 

Why we chose it: This must-have book covers everything you need to know about tourism theory. We decided to add it to our list because it’s one of the most complete books on this subject. It makes finding relevant information easy thanks to encyclopedic cross-referencing. 

Things we don’t like: Although quite big, the book is only an introduction to tourism theory, and readers will need to explore other resources to get additional context to better understand some concepts. 

The Good Company

The Good Company

Author: Robert Girling

First edition date: March 28, 2012 

Number of editions: 2

Goodreads rating: 4.5/5

Amazon rating: 4.5/5

Price on Amazon: Paperback $6.32

The Good Company is a book that features successful companies that are overcoming environmental challenges by implementing emerging technologies. It also highlights the aspects that make a good company and why giving back to the community is essential. 

Why we chose it: Although it’s not tourism industry-specific, we decided to add this book to our list because organizations in the tourism sector can play a vital role in making our planet better. This book can help tour operators and hotel owners build better companies for their employees, consumers, and society as a whole.

Things we don’t like: The book features in-depth key studies of companies making the planet a better place, but the companies included are from the manufacturing and service sectors. There isn’t a single example of a company from the travel industry.

Conclusion

While there are many books about the tourism sector, the 12 we included in our list are definitely must-read books in 2022. We made sure to add books that address fairly different topics and provide insights into the best practices and developments in the industry. Since you might have specific needs and preferences, you should choose a book that can help you find the answers you are looking for.

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