Tourism and Culture provides detailed case studies that explore the complexity of modern tourism relationships. The book challenges the often assumed primacy of the relationships between "hosts" and their "guests," arguing that virtually all forms of tourism are mediated by parties who stand outside of such immediate relationships.

Individual contributions to the book describe tourism developments in specific locales, offering a variety of perspectives on both positive and negative human consequences of the industry. Another unique feature of the book is its focus on applied anthropology, with many of the contributors describing their direct involvement in the critical assessment or development of tourism activities in different parts of the world.