Slow Tourism, Food and Cities : Pace and the Search for the "Good Life"

This book provides an in-depth examination of slow food, tourism and cities, demonstrating how these elements are intertwined with each other and the larger slow movement, as part of the modern search for "the good life." While slow tourism has been present as a concept and practice for years, organizationally and conceptually its principles are still emerging. This book systematically treats food, cities and tourism within the context of the larger alternative lifestyle movement with examples from Europe, USA and Brazil. Part 1 locates the ‘slow’ concept within the larger social setting of modernity and investigates claims made by the slow movement. It examines both the aesthetic and instrumental values behind the movement. Part 2 explores the practices and places of slow, containing both conceptual and empirical chapters. Finally, part 3 looks at the emergence of slow food, tourism and cities in a comparative perspective by examining the practices from Spain, UK, Germany and Brazil.

Slow Food began in the late 1980s as a response to the spread of fast food establishments and as a larger statement against globalization and the perceived deterioration of modern life. Since then, slow practices have permeated into other areas, including cities and territories and travel and tourism.

This book provides an in-depth examination of slow food, tourism and cities, demonstrating how these elements are intertwined with one other as part of the modern search for "the good life." Part 1 locates the slow concept within the larger social setting of modernity and investigates claims made by the slow movement, examining aesthetic and instrumental values inherent to it. Part 2 explores the practices and places of slow, containing both conceptual and empirical chapters in Italy, the birthplace of the movement. Part 3 provides a comparative perspective by examining the practices in Spain, the UK, Germany and Canada.

Slow Tourism, Food and Cities offers key theoretical insights and alternative perspectives on the varying practices and meanings of slow from a cultural, sociological and ethical perspective. It is a valuable text for students and scholars of sociology, geography, urban studies, social movements, travel and tourism, and food studies.