Although widely advocated, sustainable tourism is subject to numerous interpretations -- from environmentally friendly forms of tourism to maintaining the economic viability of tourist activity in a specific place. This book explores various views on sustainable tourism and demonstrates its complexity and diversity, in order to clarify the issues in operational terms. It addresses questions such as: can tourist activity be sustainable economically; can tourism lead to sustainability from an environmental perspective; and what is the role of tourism as a sustainable development strategy? Much of the book consists of a series of European case studies, from the U.K., France, Spain, Italy and Greece. These case studies cover three main themes: recreation and tourism in natural and rural areas; coastal tourism; and islands. The book represents a valuable supplementary text for students of tourism, as well as related disciplines such as geography, economics, environmental management, and local and regional planning and development.