This subject examines the positive and negative impacts of tourism on the physical, economic and socio-cultural environment. It includes an extensive introduction to key ecological theories and to a wide range of Australian environments and the major biophysical processes which structure them. Current models of tourism development and its impacts are reviewed and aspects of the legislative framework governing the interaction between tourism and the environment are examined. Although the course has an Australian and Asia-Pacific emphasis, it takes an international perspective with examples from Africa, North America and Europe also reviewed.