Anya Diekmann – författare

Social tourism is at a pivotal point. Over the past decade, there has been increased interest and research into social tourism issues, and as a result there is now much greater evidence on the important role that social tourism can play in providing significant benefits for the people supported through social tourism schemes. However, despite these advances and awareness of the benefits of tourism participation in most countries, there is still much confusion and ambiguity about the definition, role, and purpose of social tourism.

This comprehensive volume reflects recent shifts in social tourism research by focusing on target groups and the benefits or constraints of these groups in holiday participation. The authors explore the diversity of issues, theories and social contexts that are relevant to social tourism research, offering a range of quantitative and qualitative methods and experimental designs as well as various policy and practice contexts to address policy issues. They also highlight opportunities for greater intensity of research on the importance of policy in advancing social tourism and to stress the fundamental role that social tourism can play in achieving strategic policy goals towards enhancing wellbeing, citizenship, and quality of life in the future.

This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events.

Social tourism is at a pivotal point. Over the past decade, there has been increased interest and research into social tourism issues, and as a result there is now much greater evidence on the important role that social tourism can play in providing significant benefits for the people supported through social tourism schemes. However, despite these advances and awareness of the benefits of tourism participation in most countries, there is still much confusion and ambiguity about the definition, role, and purpose of social tourism.

This comprehensive volume reflects recent shifts in social tourism research by focusing on target groups and the benefits or constraints of these groups in holiday participation. The authors explore the diversity of issues, theories and social contexts that are relevant to social tourism research, offering a range of quantitative and qualitative methods and experimental designs as well as various policy and practice contexts to address policy issues. They also highlight opportunities for greater intensity of research on the importance of policy in advancing social tourism and to stress the fundamental role that social tourism can play in achieving strategic policy goals towards enhancing wellbeing, citizenship, and quality of life in the future.

This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events.

  Integrating case studies from around the world, chapters showcase the latest research on social tourism and its potential role in tackling the challenges posed by modern, mass tourism development that can lead to sustainable alternatives and social equity in participation. Contributors explore tourism activities that are directed towards positive social and personal outcomes for people who would not be able to access leisure or holiday travel without such interventions and illustrate the social imperative of tourism as a force for good.

  The Handbook of Social Tourism enables academics and students from various disciplines, as well as practitioners in the tourism sector, to obtain a more holistic understanding of this phenomenon and offers an enlightening and stimulating read.

Contributors include: C. Billen, N. Carr, J.D. Cisneros-Martinez, V. Cops, A. Diekmann, V. Eichhorn, A.E. Estrada-Gonzalez, C. Eusebio, A. Fernandez-Morales, J. Finniear, E. Herengodts, E. Hermans, P. Hunter Jones, L. Jolin, K.I. Kakoudakis, M. Kay Smith, R. Komppula, T. Kosar, J. Lima, S. McCabe, L. Minnaert, N. Morgan, B. Prideaux, S. Pyke, J. Pyke, G. Qiao, Y. Ram, A.C. Reyes Uribe, H. Schanzel, E. Schenkel, G. Shaw, L. Sie, E. Vento, M. Vilele de Almeida, M. Vincent, J. Wooton

Building on previous work on backpacking, this book takes the analysis of backpacker tourism further by engaging both with new theoretical debates into tourism experiences and mobilities as well as with new empirical phenomena such as the rise of the ‘flashpacker’ and alternative destinations. Chapters include material on flashpacking, the virtualization of backpacker culture, the re-conceptualisation of lifestyle travellers, backpackers as volunteer tourists, as well as backpackers'' experiences of hostels, mobilities and their policy implications. It sets a new benchmark for the study of independent travel in the contemporary world.