The use of typologies in tourism planning: Problems and conflicts

Abstract

Tourism is a worldwide socioeconomic phenomenon. Its environmental, social and economic aspects have been for years at the centre of interest of policy making and research communities. Sustainable tourism is a concept that mainly reflects the need for comprehensive analysis, integrated planning and management of tourism. In this respect, it is important to develop appropriate analytical and policy tools for tourism, particularly to reflect the different conditions, characteristics and patterns of tourism development in geographic space. Spatial typologies for tourism can be an effective tool for this purpose. The main scope of this chapter is to analyse the concept, the need and the use of typologies in the overall planning process and in the tourism planning process specifically.