Life Cycle of Tourist Destinations

Summary

This lesson explores the six stages of tourist destination development, focusing on the evolving economic impacts of tourism. It begins with exploration, where few tourists visit and infrastructure is minimal. As development progresses, the destination sees growth in facilities, jobs, and multinational investments, eventually reaching consolidation. Over time, issues like overcrowding and environmental damage may lead to stagnation. The destination may either rejuvenate through reinvestment, stabilize with a plateau in tourism, or decline due to various factors like political unrest or natural disasters. The stages outline how destinations shift from exclusive to mass tourism and how they either adapt or lose their appeal.

Takeaways

• 😀 Tourism plays a crucial role in the economic development of small countries, especially islands in the Caribbean, as they transition from resource-based to service-based economies.
• 🌍 Economists have identified six stages that most tourist destinations go through: Exploration, Involvement, Development, Consolidation, Stagnation, and either Rejuvenation, Stability, or Decline.
• 🏝️ In the Exploration stage, tourism is minimal, with few tourists, little infrastructure, and minimal impact on the destination. The tourists in this stage are typically wealthy explorers.
• 🏗️ The Involvement stage sees the development of basic infrastructure and tourist facilities like roads, airports, and accommodations to cater to growing numbers of visitors.
• 🏨 The Development stage marks rapid growth in the tourism industry, with large-scale development of tourist facilities, chain hotels, and significant changes to the landscape and natural environment.
• 🛣️ In the Development stage, mass tourism becomes a reality, and local control over tourism decreases as multinational corporations invest in the destination.
• 🏙️ The Consolidation stage establishes tourism as a major economic sector, with significant domestic and foreign investments, creating a large proportion of local employment in tourism-related industries.
• 🌍 In the Stagnation stage, the destination may begin to lose its appeal due to overuse, overcrowding, and environmental damage, resulting in decreased attractiveness.
• 🔄 The sixth stage has three potential outcomes for a destination: Rejuvenation, Stability, or Decline. The future depends on local investment and efforts to adapt.
• 🎢 In the Rejuvenation stage, destinations reinvent themselves with new attractions, renovated old ones, and improvements to infrastructure to attract new visitors and improve their reputation.
• ⚠️ In the Decline stage, a destination may face rapid visitor decline due to economic, political, or environmental factors, causing job losses, disrepair of attractions, and economic downturn.

Q & A

What is the first stage of tourism development, and what are its characteristics?

The first stage is 'Exploration.' It is characterized by very few tourists, minimal infrastructure, and little to no impact on the local area. There are few facilities such as hotels or airports, and tourists are typically explorers seeking unique, off-the-beaten-path destinations.

What happens during the 'Involvement' stage of tourism development?

In the 'Involvement' stage, the number of visitors increases, and locals start developing specialized tourist facilities like accommodations, improved infrastructure (e.g., roads, airports), and new tourist attractions. A distinct tourism season also begins to emerge.

How does the 'Development' stage impact the local area?

In the 'Development' stage, tourism experiences rapid growth, leading to significant physical changes in the landscape, such as deforestation or beach modifications. There is a rise in large hotels, mass transportation, and infrastructure. However, local control over tourism declines as multinational corporations begin to dominate the industry.

What are the key economic features of the 'Consolidation' stage?

During the 'Consolidation' stage, tourism becomes a critical economic sector. A large proportion of employment is tied to tourism, and there is a mix of domestic and foreign investment. While this benefits locals by creating jobs and infrastructure, it also leads to 'leakages,' where profits flow out to multinational corporations.

What are the negative effects seen in the 'Stagnation' stage of tourism development?

In the 'Stagnation' stage, the destination may experience overcrowding, environmental damage, and overcrowded infrastructure. These factors negatively affect the destination's attractiveness, leading to reputational issues such as poor service, traffic jams, and delays, ultimately reducing its appeal to tourists.

What are the three possible paths a destination can take in the 'Rejuvenation/Stability/Decline' stage?

In the final stage, a destination can either undergo rejuvenation (reinventing itself and attracting new visitors), achieve stability (with a plateau in visitor numbers but no further growth), or experience decline (due to factors like political issues, economic downturns, or environmental damage).

How does 'Rejuvenation' work in tourism development?

In the 'Rejuvenation' phase, the destination reinvents itself by making new investments, updating its reputation, and building or renovating attractions. This can include introducing new features like casinos or amusement parks to attract younger or different tourists, thus reinvigorating the tourism sector.

Why does a destination reach the 'Stability' stage, and what does this imply for the economy?

A destination reaches the 'Stability' stage when the growth of tourism plateaus. The tourism industry continues to contribute to the economy, but it is no longer growing at the same rate. Jobs may still be available, but the industry is not expanding as rapidly as it once was.

What causes the 'Decline' stage in tourism destinations?

The 'Decline' stage occurs when the number of tourists significantly decreases, often due to factors like political instability, economic downturns, or environmental disasters (e.g., hurricanes). If the infrastructure is damaged and not repaired, or if investment dries up, the destination can experience further deterioration.

What role do multinational corporations play in the 'Development' and 'Consolidation' stages?

Multinational corporations play a major role in the 'Development' and 'Consolidation' stages by investing in large-scale tourism infrastructure like hotels and transport networks. While they bring economic benefits like job creation, they can also lead to economic 'leakages,' where profits leave the local economy and are sent back to the corporations' home countries.