Introduction: Changing Tourism in the Cities of Post-communist Central and Eastern Europe

This special edition examines various aspects of urban tourism in the post-communist cities of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). It begins by examining the nature of tourism restructuring in the region since the end of communism and the way that this unfolds in cities. It then examines major global changes in the nature of tourism and their impacts on urban tourism in CEE. These include the growing demand among tourists for new experiences and destinations; the impact of budget airlines on tourism in smaller cities; the impacts of the sharing economy (particularly Airbnb); and the growing emphasis on events and festivals as a means of attracting visitors to cities. The article ends by introducing the six articles that make up this special edition.