ABSTRACT
By the 1990s tourism had become one of the most dynamic economic sectors in the world economy, growing faster than any other sector; by 1990 it ranked third behind only petroleum and petroleum products and motor vehicles and vehicle components in value-added trade-related activities. Today, virtually every big central city contains a Rouse mall or its equivalent in or near its downtown, and other, larger malls have also been developed in an attempt to stimulate a leisure shopping segment considered essential for urban tourism and entertainment. Such sources are important communications vehicles for sustaining an information network about local economic regeneration through tourism and entertainment. The National League of Cities (NLC) survey provides new information on the importance and character of tourism and entertainment to cities in the United States. This sector has become essential for the revitalization and economic development of cities of all sizes, both within and beyond urban areas.
