ARTICLE IN PRESS
Tourism Management 25 (2004) 287–293
Book reviews
Convention tourism: international research and industry
perspectives
Karin Weber and Kaye Chon (Eds.); Haworth
Hospitality Press, Binghamton, USA, 2002, 255pp.,
Hard Cover ISBN 0-7890-1283-9, US$49.95hb, Soft
Cover ISBN 0-7890-1284-7, US$29.95
This collection of papers provides a general overview
of the convention sector. It is of value to academics and
students seeking an introduction to the area. However,
its descriptive nature highlights the need for more
analytical studies of conventions.
The editors’ aim is to, ‘provide a more global
perspective by discussing and contrasting issues
pertinent to the three key destination regions for the
convention and meeting industry, namely North America,
Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region’ (p. xxiii). The
collection is divided into two main sections. The first
contains seven chapters covering particular issues,
namely: history, economic impact, planning and devel-
opment, marketing, human resources, research and
international meetings. The second contains four case
studies of convention centre ownership in the USA,
convention bureaus in Italy, South Korea and conven-
tion hotels in Australia.
Unfortunately, the issues which chapters address tend to
be descriptive and often repeat the same material. Again
and again, they define conventions and related terms and
reveal that the convention sector is growing rapidly, is of
major importance, is centered on big cities and so on. In
one sense this does work, as it is interesting to compare the
differing views on the use of the acronym MICE.
This descriptive nature of the collection is well
illustrated in the quote from an industry leader that is
doi:10.1016/S0261-5177(03)00087-6
Tourism planning: basics, concepts, cases
4th Edition, Clare A. Gunn with Turgut Var, Routledge.
Taylor and Francis, London, 2002, xxii+442pp.,
ISBN 0-415-93268-8, ISBN 0-415-93269-6 (pbk)
Previous editions of this well respected volume have
become a standard in many classrooms and a valued
used to introduce the chapter on human resources. He
claims that there are six adults learning through
meetings for every traditional university student
(p. 79). No evidence is presented to back the claim.
Nor is it clear what time period and geographical area is
being referred to (even though this is a work of global
coverage). My guess is that the industry leader was just
trying to get across the concept that the meeting
industry is really big. I do not feel it was ever intended
to be taken as authoritative or literal (indeed if taken as
such it is extraordinarily inaccurate and misleading). Yet
it is seemingly presented here as factual.
The chapter on research is divided into two parts. The
first disappointingly argues that the main needs are for
market research and more research. Much more
encouraging is the second part, which focuses on the
Journal of Convention and Exhibition Management,
which commenced in 1998. Its contents from 1998 to
2001 are listed and indicate the excellent and varied
research which is being taken in these fields.
The case studies in the second half of this collection
skillfully combine geographical and structural foci.
Overviews of trends in the USA and Australia (already
discussed in earlier chapters) are given an extra
dimension by being linked to convention centre owner-
ship and hotels specialising in conventions, respectively.
Unfortunately, the poor quality of the map reproduc-
tion slightly detracts from this section.
Warwick Frost
Department of Management, Monash University,
Room 188, Building 902,
Berwick, Australia
E-mail address: warwick.frost@monash.buseco.edu.au
guide for those involved in tourism planning. This much
anticipated fourth edition arrives at a time when
planning for tourism has taken on a new urgency, and
as Gordon Taylor points out in his preface, in light of
current events, this is a timely and much needed work.
In addition, although there have been no dramatic
changes in tourism planning, it has evolved to the point
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
288 Book reviews / Tourism Management 25 (2004) 287–293
where planning is now perceived as necessary to
sustainable tourism development around the world. In
keeping with the evolving role of planning, the text has
been revised and updated to reflect the increasing move
toward mindful planning and recognition of the need for
sustainability.
In this new edition, the substance and tone of the
previous volumes have been retained. The timely and
appropriate changes in the text have been skillfully
incorporated. The structure of the book remains the
same with the four chapters of part one addressing the
basics of tourism planning, and part two consisting six
chapters on the concepts of planning for each of the
three planning scales. Added to the end of each chapter
are a number of questions in a discussion section. Case
studies illustrating the concepts follow the pertinent
chapter.
Chapter one addresses the purpose of tourism
planning, the need for integrated planning at all
levels of involvement and the goals of planned
development. The second and third chapters of the
previous edition have been amalgamated into chapter
two—Tourism as a System. This chapter provides
insight into the necessity for, and the function of,
planning in each industry sector. It covers the basics of
the tourism industry in enough depth to enable those
with little background in tourism to gain an under-
standing of the interrelated and interdependent nature
of the major components of the industry. Students have
commented that this chapter is a good review as well as
serving to highlight the importance of integrated planning.
The third chapter titled Growth, Sustainability and
Ecotourism, has been substantially updated. Gunn and
Var do not flinch at pointing out the negatives as well as
the positives here. In particular, the honest and balanced
discussion of the concept of ecotourism, including
examples of both beneficial and disappointing practices,
adds credibility to the text.
A welcome addition is the new fourth chapter on
policy. Public and private sector policy has been
generally overlooked or ignored. The succinct content
of this chapter points out the growing recognition of the
benefits and desirability of well considered policy. It
highlights good, bad and controversial examples of
policy or the lack of same.
doi:10.1016/S0261-5177(03)00088-8
Tourism in national parks and protected areas: planning
and management
P. Eagles and S. McCool; CABI Publishing,
Wallingford, 2002, 320 pp., price d55.00, ISBN 0-85199-
589-6
In part two, chapters five, seven and nine introduce
the concepts involved in planning at the regional,
destination, and site scales respectively. In their intro-
duction to this part of the book, Gunn and Var
emphasize the need for integrated planning at all levels
so as to reap the economic, social, and environmental
benefits of tourism and enhance visitor satisfaction.
Here again, in each chapter the text has been updated
with some diagrams no longer apropos having been
deleted and more recent material added.
Chapters six, eight and ten provide an assortment of
case studies presenting examples of the concepts in
having been practice. This edition is given a more
international flavour with the addition of sixteen new
cases from locations around the world as well as new
cases on locations in the US.
A number of familiar international and US-based
cases have been retained from the earlier edition. It
would be interesting to see some updating of
some of these cases to reflect changes resulting
from the implementation of plans developed using
the planning concepts. Students could learn much
from the outcome arising from enacting the plans
described in the cases or the results of failure to enact
plans.
An in depth case focusing on planning for ecotourism
at the destination or site scale would be appreciated in
future editions. In less developed countries especially,
much hope is still placed on ecotourism. One or more
examples specific to ecotourism would perhaps help to
provide effective ammunition for those battling for
alternatives to mass development.
Overall this edition is strengthened by the revisions
and increased international content. It is written
seamlessly: one does not know where Gunn leaves off
and Var begins. This text exemplifies the leadership they
cite as the determining factor in tourism planning and as
such is highly recommended.
Nancy Chesworth
Department of Business and Tourism, Mount St. Vincent
University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
E-mail address: nancy.chesworth@msvu.ca
National parks and equivalent reserves are major
tourism destinations worldwide. Over the past three
decades, their management has become increasingly
more complex as visitor numbers increase, facilities age,
and natural environments change. There is a growing