- Globalization Versus Sustainable Tourism Development   2192 kb by    Zakaria El Adli Imam, Khalid & Bashandy, Soad | eladli@tedata.net.eg    Short Outline Globalization Vs. Sustainable Tourism: An Approach To Planning Tourism Destinations in Coastal Areas Abstract Tourism is reputed to be the world's largest industry in terms of international trade. The tourism industry is rapidly expanding. The ability of tourism to generate foreign exchange revenue, create employment, and absorb unemployment has provided it with a political and social legitimacy. The economic benefits of tourism are however, the results of a fundamental process by which expressions and forms of environmental and cultural capital are traded. Environmental capital, in terms of natural resources and more intangible aesthetic constructs of landscape and built heritage is clearly recognized as a platform for tourism development. Cultural capital, in its artificial form and mosaic of local cultures, together with its way of life and tradition dimensions, is also recognized to be at the root of tourism phenomenon. Yet, conflicts over the exploitation, over-usage and contested use of the environment for touristic purposes will be further pronounced by the introduction of globalization with its transcontinental flows, patterns of social interaction, and so-called global mass. This article thus explores the implications of globalization on sustainable tourism development. The concept of globalization is examined identifying key positions in favor of, and against sustainable development. Basic concepts of sustainability are explored as an attempt to outline possible approaches to planning and development of tourism destinations in coastal areas. The main purpose being to assist stakeholders in the planning and management of coastal areas while contributing to the conservation of natural and cultural diversity. Keywords SustainableTourism, Coastal Areas Case Study presented on the ISOCARP Congress 2003: Planning in a more globalized World   Click to open the full paper as pdf document   Click to send an email to the author(s) of this paper