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A History of Modern Tourism
Tourism as we know it is a surprisingly modern concept, both a product of modernity and a force helping to shape it. From the British Grand Tour in the sixteenth century to the onset of contemporary mass tourism, travel has played a crucial role in the rise of globalization and the development of the modern world.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published November 20, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 24, 2024
This is an excellent primer for someone interested in the topic. I deeply enjoyed the chapter on The Grand Tour, Age of Steam, and Packaging New Trips. There were great sections around travel motivations amongst the classes and the ways classism shaped early tourism experiences. I particularly enjoyed the author’s discussion of tourism’s growth from its earliest days to the commercial enterprise we know today. I think his strengths lie is discussing societal changes. As a professor in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Management, I appreciated the list of academic journals focused on tourism at the end.
That being said, I was disappointed that the author was unable to break away from his white centric approach. I realize that he is a British historian but there is a lack of discussion of non-White Europeans during these times. For example, in the chapter about the age of Empires and Nationalism, which focuses on Britain’s colonial empire in Canada, the Caribbean, the Middle East there is limited discussion about the non-White tourism experience. Egypt is the only country where the local people are given some attention. Perhaps this type of history is outside of his area of expertise but the introduction did not frame the book in that regard.
As I was reading I kept wondering about the people who aren’t white Europeans (or white Americans). This curiosity lead me to other histories of tourism that feature the people left out of this history. I would recommend books like Jamaica Kincaid’s A Small Place, Gretchen Sorin’s Driving While Black, and Ibn Battuta’s Travels. I hope to find more to fill in my gaps in knowledge.
The other concern I had was the neutral/positive accounting of Nazi Germany’s tourism practices in the 1930s. The racial discrimination of the Jews, LGBTQ, and disable community was given a single sentence on page 139 “Only Aryans could participate; Jews and others deemed inferior were excluded.” 🫠 If the author is going to write this history largely (if not entirely) from the perspective of the governments and socio-economic classes who wield power, that’s fine. But he should be more honest about who he’s choosing to omit from this history.
I would retitle this book to be “A Euro-Centric History of Modern Tourism” as that is what it is. But it accomplishes that feat incredibly well.
That being said, I was disappointed that the author was unable to break away from his white centric approach. I realize that he is a British historian but there is a lack of discussion of non-White Europeans during these times. For example, in the chapter about the age of Empires and Nationalism, which focuses on Britain’s colonial empire in Canada, the Caribbean, the Middle East there is limited discussion about the non-White tourism experience. Egypt is the only country where the local people are given some attention. Perhaps this type of history is outside of his area of expertise but the introduction did not frame the book in that regard.
As I was reading I kept wondering about the people who aren’t white Europeans (or white Americans). This curiosity lead me to other histories of tourism that feature the people left out of this history. I would recommend books like Jamaica Kincaid’s A Small Place, Gretchen Sorin’s Driving While Black, and Ibn Battuta’s Travels. I hope to find more to fill in my gaps in knowledge.
The other concern I had was the neutral/positive accounting of Nazi Germany’s tourism practices in the 1930s. The racial discrimination of the Jews, LGBTQ, and disable community was given a single sentence on page 139 “Only Aryans could participate; Jews and others deemed inferior were excluded.” 🫠 If the author is going to write this history largely (if not entirely) from the perspective of the governments and socio-economic classes who wield power, that’s fine. But he should be more honest about who he’s choosing to omit from this history.
I would retitle this book to be “A Euro-Centric History of Modern Tourism” as that is what it is. But it accomplishes that feat incredibly well.
January 22, 2024
Another thesis read - I'm so bored already lol. Idk how I'm meant to keep doing this til June I already know the 5 scholars everyone keeps citing so every book/article is like literature review groundhog Day.
June 29, 2019
It is a good book for people who are interested in the history of tourism, but, as a historian, there certainly flaws to be detected. But that makes for interesting debate.
August 10, 2019
A History of Modern Tourism (Hardcover)
by Eric Zuelow
order ILL today
heard au on
http://blogs.wgbh.org/innovation-hub/...
think about race, women
by Eric Zuelow
order ILL today
heard au on
http://blogs.wgbh.org/innovation-hub/...
think about race, women
October 4, 2016
A delightfully written and well-researched new work of history. Eric Zuelow argues that tourism is an option for all but the poorest people, relies on modern sights, and uses mediated aesthetics (i.e., guidebooks, TV, radio, newspaper, cultural standards of art and beauty) to select what is or isn't acceptable. I had no idea that early travel agents had mutually reinforcing relationships with civil infrastructure and international diplomacy, but after reading Zuelow's book, the connections seem obvious.
April 11, 2016
Succinct synthesis of the history of modern tourism. Good volume for base information and a jumping off point for more detailed research.
December 27, 2023
An excellent reflexion about tourism, its history, reasons and consequence
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews