Development theory and tourism in developing countries: what has theory ever done for us?

The paper briefly outlines the history of development theory and then reviews its current state. It is suggested that capitalism and international tourism are with us for the foreseeable future, and that as international tourism is a cross-border activity consistently linking individuals and institutions across 'developing' and 'developed' countries, such a distinction is of no value in conceptualising tourism, which should be seen as operating in an international and systemic way. A global model of tourism political economy is suggested, which incorporates internaiional, intra-regional and domestic tourism