Regional Coordination for Tourism Planning - Research Paper Example

The growing global concern about environment has contributed to the concept of sustainable ‘ecotourism’ from which some regions like Maldives, Kenya and Belize have taken advantage by maintaining their natural resources to target tourism market (Moutinho 2000). This paper in particular, will discuss the point that regional coordination is essential in tourism planning in order to attain the policy objectives at their anticipated levels. To illustrate, a plan that aims tourism development of a particular region has to be comprised of socio-economic, legal, environmental, and religious components.

As the initial stages of development, the tourism policy must focus on providing adequate facilities to accommodate and entertain the visitors. Moreover such places must be equipped with all basic facilities like water, telephone, banking; currency exchange etc. transport is another important area which needs special attention. All modes of transportations whether air, water or road have their own roles in the sustainability of tourism industry. All the above factors can be assimilated only through the coordination of local governments, stakeholders, and the residents of the locality.

Tourism planning is neither top-down nor bottom-up process; instead, it is an interactive or collaborative approach that involves the various processes like governess between organisations and stakeholders, and interaction between various levels of organisation (Bramwell & Lane 2000, p.146). However, what kind of development plan is required depends on the geographical feature of an area. In general sense, developmental initiatives and strategic concerns come within the following areas. Environmental issues have grown to be one of the major concerns of tourism planning all over the world.

Hence, all policies including infrastructure developmental strategies should ensure the conservation of the environment