Mass tourism is one of the most striking developments in postwar western societies, involving economic, social, cultural, and anthropological factors. For many countries it has become a significant, if not the primary, source of income for the resident population. The Mediterranean basin, which has long been a very popular destination, is explored here in the first study to scrutinize the region as a whole and over a long period of time. In particular, it investigates the area''s economic and social networks directly involved in tourism, which includes examining the most popular spots that attract tourists and the crucial actors, such as hotel entrepreneurs, travel agencies, charter companies, and companies developing seaside resort networks. This important volume presents a fascinating picture of the economics of tourism in one of the world''s most visited destinations.

Mass tourism is one of the most striking developments in postwar western societies, involving economic, social, cultural, and anthropological factors. For many countries it has become a significant, if not the primary, source of income for the resident population. The Mediterranean basin, which has long been a very popular destination, is explored here in the first study to scrutinize the region as a whole and over a long period of time. In particular, it investigates the area’s economic and social networks directly involved in tourism, which includes examining the most popular spots that attract tourists and the crucial actors, such as hotel entrepreneurs, travel agencies, charter companies, and companies developing seaside resort networks. This important volume presents a fascinating picture of the economics of tourism in one of the world’s most visited destinations.

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1. Introduction: The Mediterranean as a Tourist Destination: Past, Present, and Future of the First Mass Tourism Resort Area
Carles Manera, Luciano Segreto and Manfred Pohl

Chapter 2. Flying Visits: The growth of British air package tours, 1945-75
Peter Lyth

Chapter 3. The Transformation of the Economic Model of the Balearic Islands: The Pioneers of Mass Tourism
Carles Manera and Jaume Garau-Taberner

Chapter 4. Tourism and Business during the Twentieth Century in Greece: Continuity and Change
Margarita Dritsas

Chapter 5. The Development of the Portuguese Hotel Business, 1950-1995
Benedita Câmara

Chapter 6. Sending the Italians on holiday. The Alpitour Group
Luciano Segreto

Chapter 7. Rimini: a Mass Tourism Resort which based its Success on an Original Mix of Italian Style and Foreign Models
Patrizia Battilani

Chapter 8. The Expansion Strategies of the Majorcan Hotel Chains
Antoni Serra

Chapter 9. The French group Accor and tourism (since 1967): business tourism without a mass tourism strategy
Hubert Bonin

Chapter 10. Club Méditerranée, 1950-2002
Ellen Furlough

Chapter 11. Tourism on the French Riviera
Philippe Mioche

Chapter 12. Tourism on the Costa del Sol
Carmelo Pellejero-Martínez

Notes on contributors
Bibliography
Index