1.3 Development of tourist destinations

Question 1

Stages of tourism development

Answer 1

1. Exploration
2. Involvement
3. Development
4. Consolidation
5. Stagnation
6. Decline
7. Rejuvenation

Question 2

Relationships of the different stages

Answer 2

• The tourism industry is very dynamic.
• Tourism destinations evolve and change over time.
• They tend to progress through six different stages
• As it progresses, its key features and the number of tourist arrivals evolve.
• A tourist destination grows in popularity when investors, tourists, and tour operators move into a newly discovered location.
• Over time, however, it may lose its popularity and start to decline.
• The destination can regain popularity if measures are taken to rejuvenate the place.
• Otherwise, the tourist destination declines.
• Not all destinations go through all six stages in a linear fashion.
• While some destinations skip certain stages, in general, most tourist destinations follow similar stages of development.

Question 3

1. Exploration stage

Answer 3

Tourist arrivals:
- A small number of adventurous tourists travel there individually.
- Visits are irregular and do not occur throughout the year.
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Tourist contributions to local economy:
- minimal contributions
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Features of destinations:
- Natural attractions or features which offer scenic views or an attractive unspoilt natural environment
- Cultural attractions with landmarks of historical or heritage value.
- Lack of facilities (e.g. car parks, roads, toilets) for tourists.
———
Example:
- Jaco Island in Timor Leste
- Few international visitors due to inaccessible location and lack of tourism facilities.
- Houses the only national park in the country with attractive beaches.

Question 4

2. Involvement stage

Answer 4

Tourist arrivals:
- Increases due to increase in advertisements and publicity.
- Tourist arrivals vary at different times of the year.
- Peak and non-peak tourist seasons develop.
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Tourists’ contributions to local economy:
- begin to grow.
———
Features of destination:
- a rise in goods, services and facilities to cater to tourists.
- Goods and services are usually provided by locals.
- Amenities and facilities, requested by locals, are usually built and maintained by the local authorities.
———
**Example: **
- Kuang Si Waterfalls in Laos
- Authorities invested money to improve facilities at the waterfall.
- Increase in number of travel agencies and transport providers to enhance accessibility from the town area to the waterfall.
- Increase in tourists visiting the waterfalls.

Question 5

3. Development stage

Answer 5

Tourist arrivals:
- increase rapidly
————
Contributions to local economy:
- Tourism sector employs a significant number of workers, contributing significantly to the local economy.
- Labour from other parts of the country and other countries will be attracted to work in the booming tourism sector of the destination
————
Features of destination:
- The number of attractions and facilities built increase rapidly.
- Large businesses build more elaborate facilities and man-made attractions.
- Heavy advertising of the destination.
- Increase in large and medium businesses in retail and leisure.
- Destination becomes recognised as a tourist destination.
————
- Phu Quoc island in Vietnam
- Received investments to build an international airport and seaport.
- Attracted major businesses within the tourism industry.
- In 2019, it had a rapid increase in tourist arrivals to 5.1 million.
- Tourism sector employs a significant proportion of the local population.

Question 6

4. Consolidated stage

Answer 6

Tourist arrivals:
- Total annual tourist arrivals outnumber the local population.
- Growth in annual tourist arrivals starts to slow.
————
Tourist contributions to local economy:*
- Tourism industry dominates the local economy.
- Continues to employ a significant number of workers and contributes significantly to the local economy.
————
** Features of destination:
- Slowing down in the number of attractions and facilities built.
- Majority of tourist facilities and hotels are often owned by large MNCs, supporting large numbers of tourists.
————
Example:
- Goa in India
- Tourism sector employs a significant proportion of the local population.
- In 2019, foreign tourists (7 million) outnumber locals (1.5 million).
- Many large MNCs such as Marriott International own hotels such as the Westin Goa and the W Goa.

Question 7

5. Stagnation

Answer 7

Tourist arrivals:
- Tourist arrivals have peaked and begin to decline as the destination has reached or exceeded its carrying capacity.
- Tourist arrivals exceed the maximum number of people the environment can accommodate, resulting in negative effects.
———
Tourists contributions to local economy:
- starts to stagnate
———
Features of destination:
- Destination may no longer be attractive.
- Facilities and attractions may decline as they become old and run down.
- Tourists start to feel that the location no longer has anything to offer them in terms of experience or interest.
———
Examples:
-Hawaii, USA 1990s to 2000s
- Tourism arrivals and expenditures began to decline in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
- Waikiki, a major tourism spot, had become very crowded and the facilities and attractions were getting old and run down and in need of major
renovations.

Question 8

6. Decline (may not happen)

Answer 8

Tourist arrivals:
- decline significantly if no steps are taken to revive the destination
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Tourist contributions to local economy:
- decline significantly
———
Features of destinations:
- Local businesses are affected and may close, negatively affecting the economy and livelihoods.
- Less money available to maintain and improve facilities.
- Facilities deteriorate further, leading to fewer tourists.
- This stage may not occur for all destinations.
———
Example:
- Blackpool, UK (1990s)
- Once a popular coastal tourist destination.
- Lost its attractiveness due to competition from other European coastal locations with more competitive pricing.
- With fewer tourists, many old inns either deteriorated or had to shut down.

Question 9

7. Rejuvenation

Answer 9

Tourist arrivals:
- destination becomes more attractive again because of
- New investments to develop attractions and facilities.
- And re-branding of the destination leading to an increase in tourist arrivals again.
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Contributions of local economy:
- increases again
———
Features of destinations:
Funding provided to:
- Redevelop the area making it more attractive.
- Advertise the revamped tourist destination.
- This stage may not occur for all destinations.
———
Example:
- Blackpool, UK (present)
- Local authorities engaged the private sector to invest £300 million to build Blackpool Central, a world-class leisure development which aims to attract 600,000 visitors annually.
- Re-marketed itself as a muslim-friendly and disabled-friendly destination.