This book examines the concept of social tourism within a European context. It places social tourism within a historical context of social development in the region, highlighting the diverse ways in which social tourism has evolved, identifying commonalities and providing a comprehensive definition.

Scott McCabe graduated from his doctoral studies in 2001 and has been working in higher education for last sixteen years. Scott is currently head of the Marketing Division at Nottingham University Business School, where he has worked for seven years. Previously he worked in the hospitality sector, mainly in small hotels, restaurants and bars, travelling widely in Europe, Australia and South East Asia. He worked for a time in the fine wine trade.

Dr Lynn Minnaert is a lecturer in tourism and events at the University of Surrey. Her research focuses on social tourism and social sustainability in tourism and events.

Anya Diekmann is Professor of Tourism at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgium. Her research focuses mainly on cultural tourism, urban ethnic and slum tourism as well as social tourism.