This collection investigates the complex socio-economic and environmental consequences of tourism development within local, grassroots communities across the Asia-Pacific region. John Connell, a professor of human geography, utilizes a series of academic essays to examine the power dynamics between transient visitors and permanent residents. The work argues that tourism, while often marketed as a tool for development, frequently imposes significant cultural and environmental costs on rural populations.

Experts in the field of tourism studies recognize this work as a critical examination of the often-overlooked impacts of the industry on local populations. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the depth of the regional case studies provided.