Tourism as a Pathway to Hope and Happiness

Tourism is often viewed as a phenomenon that brings out the worst in human nature. Self-interest, overuse of resources, injustice and cultural erosion are but a few examples. This book explores the contrasting view that tourism can be a pathway to hope and happiness. The chapters address areas including wellbeing, positive psychology, hopeful tourism, mindfulness, peace, responsible tourism and spirituality. The volume examines the role of tourism in preserving natural wonders and architectural masterpieces, bringing out the best in tourists and locals and adding economic value if planned, developed and managed sustainably. It will be a useful resource for students and researchers in tourism, psychology and philosophy.

Tej Vir Singh was the Founding Director of the Centre for Tourism Research and Development, Lucknow, India. He launched several journals and was the founding Editor-in-Chief of Tourism Recreation Research. He edited and co-edited 16 books and supervised 15 doctoral candidates who were awarded PhDs in Tourism.

Richard Butler is Emeritus Professor of Tourism, School of Business, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. He has published 25 books, nearly 100 journal articles and book chapters and was awarded the UNWTO Ulysses medal in 2016 for ’excellence in the creation and dissemination of knowledge’.

David A. Fennell is a Professor in the Department of Geography and Tourism Studies, Brock University, Canada. He is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Ecotourism and has published many articles and books, including Sustainable Tourism: Principles, Contexts and Practices (co-authored with Chris Cooper, 2020).