Asia-Pacific Tourism

This text brings together a series of papers by leading tourism figures in the Asia-Pacific region. The authors are based in the region's leading tourism destinations and include policy-makers and industry representatives as well as academics. The book includes both regional and country approaches and these components are fully integrated into the text. This approach enables the major themes to emerge. These themes include the role of international agencies, planning at national and subnational levels, outbound tourism in Asia's regional superpowers, tourism development in South and Southeast Asia, and Australia's role in the region. The book highlights the gradual emergence of regional institutions as key players in tourism planning and development. Their influence extends from broad regional issues of co-operation to the facilitation and development of cross-border tourism in sub regions such as SIJORI and EAGA. Such developments highlight the growing maturity of the region, despite the setback of the Asian financial crisis.
Although there is evidence of improved co-operation, the book also highlights the disparity between the richest and poorest nations of the region, and the need to ensure that tourism opportunities are extended to the least developed nations.