Economics of Tourism and Hospitality

This book offers students an accessible and applied introduction to microeconomics in tourism and hospitality through a comprehensive analysis of the market mechanism, demand and supply, firm behaviour and strategy, and transactions and institutions.

Economics of Tourism and Hospitality not only helps students to master core microeconomic theories that are essential for understanding the tourism and hospitality industry, but, more importantly, it guides students to analyse consumer behaviour and firm strategy specific to the industry. Throughout the book, readers are guided to develop the economic analysis of tourism and hospitality that progresses from economic intuition to graphical representation and to mathematical quantification. Carefully corralled case studies showcase the applications of key microeconomic theories in solving a wide range of real-world problems, including Uber’s surge pricing, Airbnb’s supply adjustment, and McDonald’s and Burger King vying for prime locations. This book is written in an accessible style, illustrated with exquisite diagrams, and enriched with a range of other features, such as chapter summaries, review questions, and further readings to aid readers’ further understanding.

By reading this book, students will be able to develop an economist’s way of thinking, which will enable them to analyse tourism and hospitality businesses in a rigorous and critical manner. Economics of Tourism and Hospitality is essential reading for all tourism and hospitality students and teachers.