Book Review: Urban Tourism and Urban Change: Cities in a Global Economy

Urban Tourism and Urban Change: Cities in a Global Economy, by Costas Spirou, reviews the approaches cities take to regenerate urban spaces. Much of the book focuses on the transition of post-industrial urban areas, (linked to economic restructuring) to the development of service opportunities using tourism and events as part of strategic revitalization strategies. The book is comprised of seven chapters, and each chapter consists of several case studies that, taken together, contextualize relevant theory. The case studies are the strength of this book; instructors can used them to challenge students to critically assess the different planning strategies cities use in establishing nascent urban tourism agendas and in promoting regeneration planning. In this review I will relate the book to tourism developments since 2011 by discussing events occurring in London, England, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Glasgow, Scotland.