Typical questions

• • Has the number of tourists to London declined over the last 5 years?

• • Where can I find articles on tourism management?

Starting points

• • Many students studying tourism and hospitality are taking vocational courses. They may therefore benefit from consulting the Business Studies and Management chapters. Others may be focusing on the impact of tourism on the environment (see the Environment chapter) or economics (see Company Information and Economics).

• • Many resources are offered by commercial websites charging large fees! Try the resources listed in this chapter for academic alternatives.

Recommended resources

Key organisations - scholarly associations

These membership organisations have websites that provide information on conferences, research projects and publications.

Association for Tourism and Leisure Education and Research (ATLAS)

www.atlas-euro.org

Transnational membership organisation that seeks to promote the academic study of tourism.

Leisure Studies Association

leisurestudies.org

Founded in 1975. Seeks to promote the teaching and research of all aspects of leisure (including sport, holidays and tourism).

Key organisations - international

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

www2.unwto.org

Specialised agency of the United Nations and the leading international organisation in the field of tourism. Website has information on tourism and development, travel ethics, sustainable tourism and tourism markets. It provides free access to an extensive online library of books, journals and recent statistics.

Key organisations - UK trade

Use these to locate careers information, plus news about market trends and projections.

Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA)

www.abta.com

Website includes recent editions of its journal and a library of online policy reports and other publications.

Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO)

www.aito.com

Association of small to medium sized independent tour operating companies in the UK who specialise in particular areas or types of holiday. Website has some industry guidelines.

People1st International

www.people1st.co.uk

Specialises in career development for the hospitality industry. Website has comprehensive information on all aspects of apprenticeships, including training and forthcoming events.

Tourism Society

www. tourismsociety. org

Professional body for people who work in the tourist industry. Website has extensive careers advice and jobs listings.

UK Hospitality

www.ukhospitality.org.uk

Represents hotels, restaurants and food service providers. Website includes some free access to headline statistics and reports. More in-depth analysis and career development materials are offered to members only.