Definitions and Fundamental concepts of Tourism Demand in the Literature

Abstract

The paper aims to serve as a tool for the future researchers on tourism demand with an attempt to identify the definitions, fundamental concepts and dimensions of tourism demand.  It identifies the general framework of analysis adopted by various researchers in the existing tourism literature. Moreover, the study highlights the prominent work (most cited) in the tourism literature, kinds of tourism, concept of sustainable tourism versus ecotourism. The paper highlights the substantial role of good governance, political stability, exchange rate, transport and infrastructural development, distance (both travel and cultural) in generating international tourism demand across the globe. Study concludes, based on the findings of various methodological approaches i.e. quantitative, qualitative and mixed method approaches, that there is a need to incorporate rigorous econometric techniques to study the effect of income, demographic and qualitative factors on international tourism demand.