ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an historical perspective of the evolution of tourism as a business activity through the ages and some of the management challenges it has faced. It focuses on the underlying processes affecting tourism: continuity and change with a discussion of key concepts such as the importance of the resort life cycle, illustrated through the role of coastal resorts in leisure and tourism during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The chapter illustrates the role of historical sources such as diaries in reconstructing past patterns of tourism activity. Key themes not addressed in many texts are examined such as the evolution of tourism in the inter-war and post-war period. The future for tourism growth is also examined including what regions of the world are set to see major growth in tourism in the future, with a focus on Asia. The chapter is richly illustrated with visual material from historical archives.
