Philippe Violier is a Professor of Geography and a member of the Spaces and Societies Laboratory at the University of Angers, France. He is also Director of the university's Tourism and Culture faculty.Benjamin Taunay is a member of University of Angers' Spaces and Societies Laboratory, as well as a geographer, lecturer, and currently seconded to the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.

• Introduction xiChapter 1. An Overview of the Tourism World 11.1. Presentation of data and criticisms 21.1.1. Development of statistics 21.1.2. Limitations induced by these sources 21.2. A hierarchical world 61.2.1. Disparities 71.2.2. Paradigms in action: wealth of nations, distance and otherness 91.2.3. Toward a multipolar world 111.2.4. Conclusion 151.3. Touristic mobility: tourists conquering the World 151.3.1. Places, a social construction 161.3.2. Diversity of biophysical worlds 181.3.3. Variety of human constructs 191.3.4. Attendance modalities 211.3.5. Social scales 211.3.6. Conclusion 221.4. Constraints on the movement of tourists opposed by the worlds 221.4.1. Combination between the unequal wealth of nations and distance 221.4.2. The heterogeneity of the world 251.4.3. Tensions 261.4.4. Health and biophysical risks 301.4.5. Risks of everyday life: accident situations 321.5. Tourist traffic 341.5.1. By means of globalization 351.5.2. By means of mediation 361.5.3. By means of the mobilization of skills 371.6. A question of method 381.6.1. Method based on the analysis of tour operators’ catalogs 391.6.2. A method not free of bias 401.6.3. A method with many limitations 411.7. Conclusion 42Chapter 2. North America 432.1. A continent with a high level of touristicity 432.1.1. A population that is not very dense but with a high departure rate 432.1.2. Hierarchy of States 452.2. Touristicity of the places 462.2.1. To the east, the cities are dominant 462.2.2. To the west, natural parks: a level playing field with cities 502.2.3. A confidential space for indigenous nations 522.2.4. A typology of tourist places 532.3. Societal practices 562.3.1. European society practices 562.3.2. Practices of new North American societies 592.3.3. Practices of new tourism societies 592.3.4. World connectiveness of North American places 602.4. Conclusion 612.5. Atlas 62Chapter 3. Central America 673.1. Southern part of the North American tourism area 673.1.1. A politically fragmented region 673.1.2. “A continent in the grip of violence” 693.1.3. Tourist hierarchy of States 693.2. Touristicity of places 733.2.1. Seaside region 733.2.2. A region also dedicated to discovery 753.2.3. Costa Rica, a special case 773.2.4. Typology of tourist places 783.3. Societal practices 813.3.1. Practices of former tourism societies 813.3.2. Practices of new tourism societies 823.3.3. World connectiveness 833.4. Conclusion 843.5. Atlas 85Chapter 4. South America 894.1. Overall, not very touristy 894.1.1. Far from the center and a sparsely populated continent 894.1.2. Hierarchy of States 924.2. Touristicity of places 944.2.1. Atlantic Coast 944.2.2. The Andes and the southern cone 954.2.3. Tourist suburbs of the continent 994.2.4. Typology of tourist places 1014.3. Societal practices 1044.3.1. Practices of former tourism societies 1044.3.2. Practices of new tourism societies 1064.3.3. World connectiveness of South America’s tourist attractions 1064.4. Conclusion 1074.5. Atlas 108Chapter 5. Central and Northern Europe 1155.1. Northern margin of a very touristic continent 1155.1.1. World Region, the birth of tourism 1155.1.2. Hierarchy of States 1165.1.3. Three models of tourist space 1175.2. Touristicity of places 1175.2.1. Large cities, the main object of discovery 1185.2.2. Play 1225.2.3. Typology of tourist places 1235.3. Societal practices 1255.3.1. Practices of former tourism societies 1255.3.2. Practices of new tourism societies 1275.3.3. World connectiveness of tourist places in Central and Northern Europe 1285.4. Conclusion 1305.5. Atlas 130Chapter 6. The Mediterranean Basin 1356.1. One of the three most touristic areas in the World 1356.1.1. The first tourist destination in the World 1356.1.2. Specific context 1366.1.3. Consensual state hierarchy 1406.1.4. The case of France, the World’s leading tourist destination 1426.2. Touristicity of places 1446.2.1. Discovery, a dominant practice 1446.2.2. Rest comes next 1476.2.3. Other practices 1496.2.4. Practices of non-Europeans in France: essentially discovery 1496.2.5. Typology of tourist places 1516.3. Societal practices 1536.3.1. Practices of former tourism societies in Northern Europe 1536.3.2. Practices of former tourism societies in Southern Europe and the United States 1566.3.3. Practices of new tourism societies 1566.3.4. France to non-resident tourists 1586.3.5. World connectiveness 1586.4. Conclusion 1606.5. Atlas 161Chapter 7. Sub-Saharan Africa 1677.1. A continent still poorly integrated into the world tourism area 1677.1.1. A continent on the fringes 1687.1.2. Strong opposition in favor of the States of the Southeast of the continent 1687.2. Touristicity of places 1697.2.1. Popular places 1707.2.2. Places and practices, safaris on the continent 1707.2.3. Resting on the beaches 1717.2.4. Search for diversification 1757.2.5. Special case: the Republic of South Africa 1767.2.6. Typology of tourist places 1777.3. Societal practices 1817.3.1. Practices of former tourism societies 1817.3.2. Practices of new tourism societies 1847.3.3. World connectiveness of sub-Saharan African places 1847.4. Conclusion 1867.5. Atlas 187Chapter 8. Western Asia 1958.1. A mosaic of tourist attractions 1968.1.1. Region marked by high tensions 1978.1.2. Maintaining a regular flow 1988.1.3. Arabian Peninsula, renewal of contrasts 1988.2. Touristicity of places 2008.2.1. Dubai and Abu Dhabi, all-purpose metropolises: Oman, a more sensible tourist destination 2008.2.2. Discovery of India organized in two tourism areas 2018.2.3. Combinations bringing together dominant discovery with secondary rest and play practices 2048.2.4. Typology of tourist places 2098.3. Societal practices 2118.3.1. Practices of former tourism societies 2118.3.2. Practices of new tourism societies 2118.3.3. World connectiveness 2128.4. Conclusion 2138.5. Atlas 214Chapter 9. Southeast Asia 2199.1. Two-step tourism implementation 2209.1.1. Cultural and landscape mosaic 2219.1.2. Tourism invigorated by China's entry onto the scene 2239.1.3. Thailand, a key destination 2269.2. Touristicity of places 2289.2.1. Regional tourist frames 2289.2.2. Rest and discovery in competition 2289.2.3. Typology of tourist places 2299.3. Societal practices 2319.3.1. Practices of former tourism societies 2319.3.2. Practices of new tourism societies 2329.3.3. World connectiveness of Southeast Asia’s tourist places 2339.4. Conclusion 2359.5. Atlas 235Chapter 10. Northeast Asia 23910.1. Recent entry on the world tourist scene, a spectacular breakthrough 23910.1.1. Access to progressive and State-controlled tourism 24010.1.2. Two advantages and one disadvantage 24110.1.3. Tourist hierarchy of States 24210.2. Touristicity of places 24210.2.1. A region of discovery 24310.2.2. Cruises and few stays 24510.2.3. Typology of tourist places 24510.3. Societal practices 24810.3.1. Practices of former tourism societies 24810.3.2. Practices of new tourism societies 25110.3.3. World connectiveness 25410.4. Conclusion 25510.5. Atlas 256Chapter 11. Oceania and the Pacific Islands 26111.1. A fantasy region but one that is poorly visited 26111.1.1. Disadvantages affecting globalized tourism 26111.1.2. Hierarchy of States 26311.2. Touristicity of the places 26411.2.1. Discovery in the two largest islands: Australia and New Zealand 26511.2.2. Rest in the smallest islands 26811.2.3. Play 27011.2.4. Typology of places 27011.3. Societal practices 27211.3.1. Practices of former tourism societies 27311.3.2. Practices of new tourism societies 27311.3.3. World connectiveness of places in the Oceania–Pacific region 27411.4. Conclusion 27611.5. Atlas 276Conclusion 281References 289Index 301