Book excerpt: Distinguishing between sustainable development and sustainable tourism, the authors examine whether, and in what form, tourism can contribute to sustainable development and growth. Focusing on different types of tourism appropriate to particular situations, the team of leading contributors draws on examples from around the world - Canada, USA, Spain, Belgium, UK, Australia - to explore tourism's contribution to the economic, social, political and environmental advancement of developing countries and the importance of tourism in industrialised nations. This book examines the new policies and initiatives established by both the private sector and the state to pursue sustainable tourism growth and identifies the opportunities and challenges inherent in achieving it.