Tourism is of vital importance to the global economy and for many regional economies. The World Tourism Organisation (WTO) estimates that tourism is directly and indirectly responsible for generating up to 10% of the world´s GDP and 100 million jobs. The European Commission says that 9 million people are directly employed in the EU tourism sector, which accounts approximately for 5% of the GDP.Thereby taking into consideration the substantial growth of tourism as an economic and social phenomenon, an attempt to improve the understanding of its regional diversity and spatial effects seems to appear as a major aim in order to support a European development towards a better balance, regional competitiveness and territorial cohesion.This ESPON study should unite to the following general objectives: 1) be built and expound upon the existing ESPON research framework and objectives within ESDP with regard to balanced, sustainable development and territorial cohesion. Of particular interest are the projects on cultural heritage (1.3.3), polycentric development (1.1.1), rural-urban relations (1.1.2), demography (1.1.4), Europe in the world (3.4.1), integrated tools (3.1), spatial scenarios (3.2) and feasibility on flows analysis (1.4.4); 2) lay down a scientific research basis, i.e. overview of existing studies, research works and policies in the field, including data sources, definition of appropriate concepts, proposals for indicators, datasets which are relevant in the scope of a future applied research project, to measure and display trends and disparities within and between the EU 25+2+2 and its regions.Finally, the main final aim of the study should be the elaboration of a proposal for a future applied territorial research covering the theme.