An introduction: Learning and sustainable tourism

In this chapter, the editors of the book introduce the reader to learning in a sustainable tourism context. Learning and personal development have emerged as motivations and interests in tourism and travel, in line with societal and market changes. This transformation relates to, for instance, the climate crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, rapid technological developments and the fact that travellers are more experienced, knowledgable and aware than ever before. Learning and the collaborative production of knowledge is also seen as a necessity for dealing with threats to climate, biodiversity, welfare, security and democracy. The purpose of this book is to explore how tourism, knowledge and learning can be used as means towards sustainable development through current, new or changed structures, concepts, activities and communication efforts. In this first chapter, we also outline the main theoretical concepts of the book, and the conceptual, empirical and methodological contributions of each chapter.