Benidorm Flashcards
What are all the stages of the butler model?
Exploration, Involvement, Development, Consolidation, Stagnation, Decline, Rejuvenation.
What are the characteristics of exploration on the butler model?
- Small numbers of visitors attracted by natural beauty or cultural characteristics
- Tourist numbers are limited.
- Few tourist facilities exist.
What are the characteristics of involvement on the butler model?
- Limited involvement by local residents to provide some facilities for tourists.
- There is a recognisable ‘tourist season’.
- There begins to be a definite tourist market.
What are the characteristics of development on the butler model?
- Large numbers of tourists arrive.
- Control passes from the locals to external organisations (TNCs).
- Increase in tension between local people and tourists.
What are the characteristics of consolidation on the butler model?
- Tourism has become a major part of the local economy.
- Visitor numbers start to level off (at a high number).
- Some older facilities are seen as second-rate.
What are the characteristics of stagnation on the butler model?
- Peak numbers of tourists have been reached.
* The resort is no longer considered fashionable.
What are the characteristics of decline on the butler model?
- Attractiveness continues to decline.
- Visitors are lost to other resorts and destinations.
- Resort becomes dependent on day visitors and weekend recreationalists from a limited geographical area.
- Long term decline will continue unless action is taken to rejuvenate the area and modernise.
Describe exploration in Benidorm.
1950s: Declining fishing port as stocks decline so the mayor persuades the President to allow bikinis to be worn (only place in Spain to offer this). Only US film stars and rich European can afford to visit, staying in large villas and homes of wealthy land owners.
Describe involvement in Benidorm.
1960s: New hotels, bars, restaurants are built to make money from the growing number of rich tourists arriving because it is the fashionable holiday destination. Package holidays begin to be organised as people are drawn by the guaranteed sunny summers, warm sea and Spanish culture.
Describe development in Benidorm.
1970s: Transport infrastructure greatly improved – new road and nearby airport at Alicante – as well as improved water supply, sewage systems and electricity links. Large numbers of middle income tourists can now afford this holiday. Wider range of activities are introduced such as affordable boat trips, more cafes and shops.
Describe consolidation in Benidorm.
1980s: It is now the biggest Spanish resort as mass tourism as large numbers of hotels are built for the lower income holiday makers drawn by the cheap alcohol and local food outlets and nightlife. Competition between hotels and bars forces prices down as the culture has become highly westernised. Transport links improve further and large numbers of high rise hotels, fast food outlets to accommodate tourism reaching a peak at 12m visitors per year. Money went to TNCs rather than back into the local community
Describe stagnation in Benidorm.
The qualities that first attracted tourists (natural beauty, Spanish culture, beautiful clean beaches, quiet relaxing feel) are no longer present, so the resort declines. The sewage systems are not equipped to cope with the levels of people.
Describe decline in Benidorm.
Nightlife has become violent with drunken fights and riots, upsetting and shaming the locals. Police are disrespected due to the language barrier. Only fast food outlets and western shops. Visitor numbers plunged because many people became ill with typhoid due to the poor sewage systems leaking into the sea. With so many tourists on the beach, they trod sand away on their feet.
Describe rejuvenation in Benidorm.
A waste extraction programme took place with 110 workers, 35 beach cleaners, 7 large beach cleaning machines costing £700m. It is trying to change its image into a family destination, rather than a cheap boozy weekend. A semi-permanent artificial beach costing £10m was built along with foot baths to wash the sand off of your feet as you leave the beach. The issue of general litter has been improved with machines cleaning the beach everyday of little bits of rubbish but mainly cigarette butts.
