Tourism Studies on the Mediterranean Region

The book series Tourism Studies on the Mediterranean Region, published by McGraw Hill, was launched in 2020 with the aim of serving as a reference point for researchers, academics, entrepreneurs, and policymakers seeking to acquire new insights into a multitude of critical issues related to tourism in the fragile and conflict-ridden Mediterranean region.

The series is published annually with an international focus, featuring studies and research in English centered on tourism in the Mediterranean area. It is curated by three senior researchers from the Institute for Studies on the Mediterranean (CNR-ISMed): Dr. Piera Buonincontri, Dr. Luisa Errichiello, and Dr. Roberto Micera, who may be supported by guest editors specializing in various aspects of tourism management, depending on the annual theme.

The series’ scientific committee includes internationally renowned scholars and researchers representing multiple disciplines and a significant number of Mediterranean countries.

The Mediterranean region encompasses countries with diverse cultures, religions, economies, and development trajectories. Major challenges faced by these countries include migration crises, demographic pressures, development difficulties, water scarcity, desertification, over-urbanization, and food insecurity. In this context, tourism emerges as a sector capable of fostering more balanced growth across the region. When properly planned and managed, tourism can generate positive economic, cultural, and social impacts, leveraging differences and strengthening commonalities to create a positive balance while avoiding the marginalization of less developed countries.

Despite widespread recognition by the scientific community and policymakers of tourism’s key role in the development of Mediterranean countries, no comprehensive tool currently highlights the strengths, weaknesses, peculiarities, and transformations of this sector across the region and within individual countries.

The first volume of the series focused on sustainable tourism development in Mediterranean countries, addressing the recovery of the sector after the profound crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes 14 contributions from various Mediterranean countries, offering multidisciplinary approaches and diverse theoretical and empirical perspectives on this pressing issue.

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The second volume, edited in collaboration with Guest Editor Prof. Giacomo Del Chiappa (University of Sassari and CNR-ISMed) and published in December 2022, examined the impact of 4.0 technologies on the dynamics of the tourism sector, the behavior of operators, and tourists. Particular attention was given to the paradigm shift driven by the emergence and development of the metaverse. The volume features 11 innovative research contributions characterized by theoretical-empirical approaches and interdisciplinary methodologies. The findings provide managerial insights for a wide range of stakeholders, including policymakers, destination marketers, and tourism operators, interested in understanding how 4.0 technologies can enhance their competitive offerings.

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The third volume, published in 2023 and edited in collaboration with Guest Editor Prof. Roberta Garibaldi (University of Bergamo), explored the increasingly significant role of gastronomy in tourism development within Mediterranean destinations. The volume reflects broader trends such as the diversification of gastronomic practices, growing interest in sustainability, and the integration of digital tools to enhance visitor experiences. It includes 9 innovative contributions investigating three key themes: tourist behavior, with a focus on motivations, activities, and post-visit actions; the preservation of identity heritage, examining how local gastronomy supports traditions and fosters innovation; and creativity, highlighting emerging practices such as food festivals and thematic itineraries that enrich the tourism offering.

The fourth volume, published in 2024 and edited in collaboration with Guest Editor Prof. Alfonso Vargas-Sánchez (University of Huelva, Spain), addresses the topic of tourism governance, emphasizing the need to rethink it in light of contemporary challenges, such as sustainability, climate change, circular economy, and technological revolution. With a specific focus on Mediterranean countries, the volume examines the role of local communities and the often-overlooked social dimension of sustainability, questioning whether tourism governance has sufficiently evolved to tackle post-pandemic challenges. The 11 chapters cover topics such as tourism industry metrics, sustainability policies, host-resident interactions, inclusive decision-making, demarketing, territorial governance, and public-private partnerships, with numerous case studies from Italy, Croatia, Spain, and Tunisia.

Since 2022, the series has been endorsed by ENIT – the Italian National Tourist Board.

The volumes of the Book Series Tourism Studies on the Mediterranean Region are regularly previewed at the TTG in Rimini during dedicated events that bring together the series editors, authors, academics, and tourism professionals. These occasions serve as valuable opportunities for dialogue and discussion on the topics addressed in the volumes. Additionally, further presentations and debates concerning the book series are periodically organized by the editors throughout the years, fostering ongoing reflection on the issues explored.