Tourism, museums and the local economy - P. S Johnson

Tourism is frequently seen as a way of creating new employment opportunities in those regions which have suffered from severe de-industrialization and major cutbacks in manufacturing industry.This important book - based on new and original research - examines the economic impact, measured in employment terms, of the North of England Open Air Museum at Beamish. The authors provide a detailed assessment of the direct, indirect and induced employment generated by the museum. The assessment of the museum's employment impact is placed firmly within the context of its historical development and of the region's tourism activity.Tourism, Museums and the Local Economy focuses on one particular museum, but
the methodology and much of the discussion are widely applicable to the evaluation of other tourist attractions. The policy implications of the study are fully assessed by the authors who also make use of a series of international comparisons.
The book will be of interest to economists,
geographers and all those who have an interest in tourism, the arts and museums, and regional development. It will be an invaluable asset to planners and policymakers at both central and local government level.

Peter Johnson, former Professor of Business Economics, Barclays Centre for Entrepreneurship, University of Durham Business School, UK and Barry Thomas, formerly Senior Lecturer in Economics, Durham Business School, UK

'Tourism, Museums and the Local Economy offers some lessons to tourism managers and scholars. It will be a good addition to research collections in economics, regional development and public policy.'
Adrian Bull, Annals of Tourism Research

'. . . it makes an important contribution to the dissemination of methodologies to assess the impact of tourist attractions and to the understanding of the potential contribution of comparable tourist attractions to regional development.'
David Bradley, Northern Economic Review

'The book will be of interest to applied economists, those interested in recreation and its employment impact, and in museums and their management. It should form an invaluable reference test for researchers assessing the employment impact of museums. The study blends theory and empiricism, economics and management, description and analysis, quantification and qualitative observations into a cocktail which is enjoyable to read, which will provide inspiration for future studies, and a work which should occupy a position as a standard reference area of recreational economics for years to come.'
K.G. Willis, Journal of Environmental Planning and Management

'This work provides a much needed addition to existing empirical research in the field of economic impact analysis.'
Andrew Feist, The Economic Journal

'Anyone involved in comparable attractions, either directly or indirectly or induced, should find the book a fascinating read.'
Jeremie Logie, Tourism

'This study is useful and brings into focus the necessity for more reliable work on tourism products and their impact on the local economy.'
Judy White, University of Birmingham, UK