The International Association for Tourism Economics was formed in September 2007 with the following aims:

(a) to contribute to the development and application of tourism economics as a science and instrument for policy making,

(b) to improve communication and contacts between teachers, researchers and students in tourism economics all over the world,

(c) to improve communication and contacts between tourism economics and other fields in economics and in other disciplines,

(d) to develop and encourage cooperation between university level teaching institutions and research institutions so as to promote knowledge of the concepts and applications of economic analysis to tourism issues and policy analysis.

The rules of the association are contained in the statutes.