I can clearly see why this book wasn't rated higher in spite of tons of interesting information, relevant and enlightening statistics and a number of appropriate interviews and perspectives offered. The book is a curious cross between a thorough study of the industry and a travelogue, penned, at times, in a rather annoying style. I'm glad she interviewed all those people from all walks of tourist life, but I'd be thankful, if I could be left in the dark as per how she managed to obtain those interviews and how she and her husband traveled to such and such destination. Don't take me wrong - I enjoy travelogues, but I opened the book for what it promised to be, unequivocally printed on its cover. I got this, no doubts, but with it came this tiny caboose attached :) That's what draws down ratings for this otherwise much demanded snapshot of the industry and a source of unique information.

I thought the book was brutally honest about tourism and travel and kind of scary about where some nations are heading. The cities and historical treasures that are being destroyed due to tourism shocked me. I'll probably never go on a cruise after reading this not that I would have anyway. ( )

Excellent! Very readable, full of information, and will open your eyes even if you thought Venice is being ruined by tourism! ( )

This is great, entertaining book. I wish I could give it 4.5 stars - but if you like traveling and if you like business, it's a funny, witty peephole into an evil business. The cruise ship and the Venice chapters are so so memorable, and the China chapters loads of fun. ( )

Despite initial promise of new look at under analyzed industry, arguments are predictable, even trite...at least to anyone interested enough in the subject to read this book. Structure suffers from chapters based on locations making it repetitive, disorganized in sometimes reading like travelogue rather than industry critique. ( )

An excellent book, offering a wide view of travel which corresponds very closely to my own experience. Good history of travel, much of which agrees with my own experience on recent cruises and vacations. The author is particularly astute on the contribution of Three Sticks (James Robinson 111), onetime head of American Express, and his desire to know more about his customers and their habits. The book is notably good on the marketing of cruises and why cheap ones end up costing so much and why small ones are so expensive, yet great. i had no idea that Gingrich and his idiot Republicans did away with US spending on tourist info in 1996, and that we did not have a website for travel to the US in 2012. Nonetheless, the US remains a prime destination -- the author is certainly right about the large numbers of tourists in NYC, where I live. ( )

(79) An overlooked aspect of globalization is its impact on travel. As more and more people worldwide can afford sojourns abroad, billions of dollars are being invested in tourism, tourist destinations, and over-the-top experiences. Traveling the world and meeting fellow tourists, citizens, and international travel professionals, Becker unpacks new phenomena in tourism, including the growth in travel for once-insulated Chinese citizens, environmental impact, the tango between federal involvement and tourism, and more. Highly recommended! Reviewed a galley provided by the publisher via NetGalley.com ( )

I did not read every chapter in this book because some places like Sri Lanka hold no interest for me. I did, however, read most of the chapters and was shocked to discover that on most cruise lines, the attendees are paid $50 a month as a wage, so they live off of tips only. I also discovered how critical the role of China and the Chinese are for the travel industry, what has gone wrong in US tourism and what France is doing right. Also, what a balancing act it all really is. Illuminating if you are interested in the future of travel. ( )