An intact nature, cultural diversity, personal contacts andmutual understanding are the foundations of an eventful, interesting and viabletourism. Sustainable tourism can help to balance the economies of richer andpoorer regions, to maintain public infrastructure and consequently to improvethe quality of life. Moreover, tourism can be a vehicle for tolerance and betterunderstanding among people and regions at local, national and global level. Allthis can contribute substantially to the development and implementation ofsustainable tourism strategies. This book looks at these and related issues asit assesses the critical role played by tourism in regional development aroundthe world .