ABSTRACT
This chapter sets out to explain the rational of this book. It provides an overview of the key issues to be addressed. The book takes a global perspective by considering the local issues that are important to multiple coral reef tourism destinations. The main contribution to the literature comes through the articulation of a tourism studies perspective on coral reef issues. From this tourism studies perspective, the role of coral reefs as a major pull factor at both destination and national levels is significant and highlights the need for the tourism industry to become part of the solution to the problems faced by coral reefs, not part of the problem. The chapter finishes by outlining the structure of this book.
