Quotes from Elizabeth Becker

25 million tourist trips to foreign countries in 1960; 250 million in 1970; 536 million in 1995; 922 million in 2008; 1 billion in 2012.

The concept of tourism has changed with industrialization, yes, and standardization," said Harms. "You don't see any difference anymore between one place and another. It's easier to build that way and provide standard service, but how can you preserve a sense of place and culture? The complexity of the tourism industry works against sustainability.

Tourism cannot be outsourced." Philippe Maud'hui of ATOUT France made that declaration in his crowded office on the Place de Catalogne, surrounded by stacks of documents and data showing how much tourism contributes to the economy and how. It is so obvious it was startling.