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588 Tourism Recreation Research
structured hierarchically and reflects the prevailing
administrative units and political framework. While
organisations based on functional tourism regions
may exist, most follow the administrative boundaries
of municipalities, counties, states or provinces.
National bodies usually play a more significant role
in centralised nations while regional tourism
organisations may be stronger in federal systems.
Strong formal and functional linkages may exist
among them by way of marketing agreements and
the operation of integrated reservations systems
and databases, or alternatively, the network may
consist of a loose association of disparate
organisations.
There is no single best type of tourism
organisation nor inter-organisational network.
Each country must evolve a system which best
reflects local, regional and national conditions. As
these change, some evolution in their structure and
function may also be expected. A successful
tourism organisation might be considered to be
one that is soundly established, well resourced,
highly regarded and that is meeting its goals.
Further reading
Chow, D. �1993) Àlternative roles of national
tourism organisations', Tourism Management
14�5): 357±65. �A comparative analysis of the
government tourism organisations for the top
five Asia-Pacific destinations.)
Pearce, D.G. �1992) Tourist Organisations, Harlow:
Longman. �A systematic and comprehensive
cross-national study of tourist organisations in
six countries offering a conceptual framework
and analysing common patterns and processes.)
WTO �1994) Budgets of National Tourism Administrations,
Madrid: World Tourism Organization. �A
world-wide survey of national tourism organisations
with an emphasis on promotions.)
DOUGLAS G. PEARCE, NEW ZEALAND
Tourism Recreation Research
Tourism Recreation Research, a multidisciplinary journal,
publishes research studies on various recreational
environments and attempts to propose
appropriate strategies for sound growth and
development of tourism in both developed and
developing countries. This refereed journal regularly
publishes special issues focusing upon
popular and emerging themes. First appearing in
1976, it is published twice yearly by the Centre for
Tourism Research and Development, India �ISSN
0250±8281).
tourism, secular
RENE BARETJE, FRANCE
`Secular' means not sacred or ecclesiastical, and
secularism means the indifference to or exclusion
of religion. The term `secular tourists' thus
represents those who seek only to satisfy their
curiosity about a holy place, or perhaps about the
pilgrims as well. Regardless of their motivations,
all tourists visiting such attractions require some
level of services. The larger, better known pilgrimage
shrines of Europe draw varying numbers
of secularly oriented tourists along with religious
pilgrims.
Tourism Society
BORIS VUKONIC Â ,CROATIA
The Tourism Society was established in 1977 in the
United Kingdom. Its activities focus on the
communication of information and knowledge,
primarily through a combination of meetings and
its quarterly journal, Tourism. It acts as an advocate
for the industry by addressing current issues and
expressing views on them to government, the
public and private sectors. Further, it promotes
contact amongst colleagues throughout the UK
tourism industry and with professionals in this field
internationally. Membership is around 1,300 and
ranges from students, academics and consultants
through lower and middle management levels in
the private and public sectors to industry leaders.
The Society also incorporates the Association of
Tourism Teachers and Trainers as well as the
Tourism Consultants Group.
ADRIAN CLARK, UK