Tourism and environmental research: a review

Abstract

This paper reviews the nature and scope of research into the environmental impact of tourism, the role such research may play in tourist development and conservation and the constraints which may be encountered. Research in this field is characterised by a wide spectrum of generally complex interrelationships and impacts. In recent years there has been a growing call from policy‐makers for environmental guidelines, indicators and other research but as yet few immediate solutions to their problems and answers to their requests are to hand. The complexity of the issues involved and other difficulties have also limited the extent to which research has been fed into the decision‐making process.