Strong Tourism Development Approaches - Essay Example

? International Tourism Question Tourism planning entails the promotion of tourism through strong tourism development approaches. This is essential for the achievement of successful tourism management and development. Planning focuses on changing regulations in a system so as to promote orderly developments in tourism. Hence, planning is an essential element in supporting the long-term sustainability of developments in tourism. Boosterism as an approach to planning is linked with tourism policy statements, which is usually based on the assumption that; tourism is naturally good and it should be developed no matter the circumstance (Inskeep, 1991 pp 77). Natural and cultural resources are viewed as exploitable resources while the industry is viewed as an expert, and development is defined in business terms. The problem in planning sets in with the number of tourists attracted and accommodated. This problem affects the hosts since they have to overcome the problem since they have to be good to the tourists. In this model of planning, planning and demand forecasting methods include; advertising, growth targets, and promotion. According to the policy of boosterism, the chief perceived conclusion is that tourist attractions have developmental benefits, which exceeds the cost. Therefore, the policies target at spending on advertisement and marketing research of tourism. Most countries apply the policy of boosterism in an attempt to promote developments of the tourism industry. These countries focus on approaches that focus on stimulating the demand of tourism. Through the stimulation of tourism demand, the number of tourists increases remarkably. Boosterism is still adopted in most cases since it focuses on promoting tourism, which is beneficial to the host countries. It is through tourism that several employment opportunities are created to the host country. For instance, through tourism, job opportunities for individuals with little experiences are made available. Also, through tourism, certain lucrative job opportunities exist. For instance, professional athletes, entertainers, gaming and hotel managers, chefs, tourism development engineers, and directors of sporting facilities. It is through boosterism that sectors dealing with marketing and research utilize their knowledge and skills since the policy makers have to focus on marketing of tourism and the gathered research, in attracting tourists and developing tourism. Boosterism is adopted in most cases since through its application of policies that enhance tourism demand; it leads to income growth of the host nation. This is realised through the increased number of tourists visiting the host country, who buy services leaving behind foreign currency. One of the objectives of governments is to promote sustainable economic and social developments. However, with the emerging politico-administrative regimes, government work in providing basic infrastructural services and security. Economic developments now depend on the private investors, who have different levels of regulations. Because of this emerging focus, private investors have developed urban cities resulting from the development of technology. Different urban centres have developed emanating from the technology. Globalization has made competition in investment among urban centres be lively. Urban centres have been the main focus of technological developments, for instance, urban centres are well connected with the internet than the urban areas. This has simplified the marketing of cities over the globe, which promotes boosterism. The marketing of the urban cities has been simplified since countries can market their cities through the internet in the most economical and fast way. Hence, with the growth of technology, boosterism has been made convenient, fast and effective, which has made countries use the approach. The approach is convenient since a large number of individuals can be reached with the use of the prevailing technology. It is fast since with the developed technology in the urban areas cities can be marketed at an exceedingly fast rate through the use of the internet. Therefore, the approach was used traditionally and is still being adopted due to the simplicity brought about by technological developments. Boosterism is still being adopted since it supports automatic benefits to an area (Ward, 1999 pp 84). It is considered a relevant system to apply when there is little tourism development in an area. Sustainable tourism planning is not usually adopted since tourism and sustainability are not always compatible. In addition, with sustainable tourism planning effective control and coordination mechanisms are necessary, and increased regulation may also be essential. This makes adoption of sustainability tourism planning difficult as compared to boosterism. Question # 2 Tourism planning does not entail a one person decision but comprises of the decision of different individuals. Both the public and private actors have to be involved in the process of tourism planning. The public sector is involved in tourism planning with the central role of enactment, governance, and implementation of rules and regulations. The government has a role of providing land to host different tourist attractions; hence it has to be involved in the planning process. The private sector is involved in various investment programs that promote tourism, which makes it a chief player in tourism planning (Bhatia, 2006 pp 47). The key interest groups involved in the planning of tourism includes; residents of the host destination area, environmental advocacy groups, tourism related and non-related businesses, politicians and other elected officials, labour unions and other employee representatives, and government officials. Residents of the area hosting tourist must be involved in the planning process since the residents contribute a lot to welcoming of the tourists. It is crucial to involve the residents so as to prepare for proper receiving of the tourism projects. Without the involvement of the residents in the host destination, the planning process may be ineffective since the residents may end up being hostile to the tourists visiting their area. The residents determine how effective tourism will be in the hosted area. Environmental advocacy group play an essential part in the planning of tourism since they research on the environmental impact of hosting tourism in a given area. These groups are involved in the process of determining whether certain areas can support tourist attraction centres and related tourism facilities. For example, the group restricts construction of tourist attraction centres near institutions such as schools. Involvement of these groups in the planning process helps in developing facilities, in environmental friendly areas. They have to gauge the environmental impact of putting up a tourism facility in an area before the facility is constructed. Tourism related businesses such as hotels, game parks and reserves should be involved in the tourism planning process since they play a remarkably vital role in welcoming the tourists in the host areas. Through their involvement in the planning process, they are capable of planning for the expected number of tourists in an area. This is crucial since the tourist related businesses can help in maintaining the national image to the tourists, when they are involved in the planning process. Non-related businesses are also involved in the planning process since they offer different forms of support to the tourism related businesses. Labour unions and other employee council should be engaged in the process of tourism planning in order to know the expected labour force emanating from the tourism industry. Government officials have to be involved in the tourism planning in order to arrange for security of tourists. The government officials are also involved in making regulations that guide tourism; hence, they should be involved in the planning. Tourism planning has the involvement of different stakeholders, but the stakeholders usually have different ideas and interests in tourism. The chief challenge facing cooperation, collaboration and co-ordination of the different interest groups are dealing with conflicting ideas and interests. The need to involve different stakeholders in tourism planning has received a growing recognition, which has led to increased attention being directed towards the use of partnerships or collaborative arrangements that bring together different conflicting ideas and interests of the stakeholders. In tourism planning, collaborative arrangements comprise of face to face interactions among the stakeholders both in private and public sectors. These collaborations can lead to negotiations and dialogue that help in ending any available conflicts among the interest groups. Most interest groups struggle to be included in the planning process, but end up not being included, which hinders collaboration, among the different interest groups. Although some interest groups are involved in the planning process, they may not get an opportunity of engaging in the planning process. This poses a challenge since the interest groups may reject the decision made by other stakeholders. In order to solve the challenge of having conflicting interests among the different stakeholders, collaboration is necessary. Collaborations may be faced with a challenge emanating from the perceptions that the groups have over each other. Overcoming of mistrust among the interest groups becomes remarkably difficult. Collaborative arrangements are challenged since the different interest groups may find it difficult to gain access to the arrangements due to power relations. Power may influence the individuals and interest groups in the making of policies; some tend to be exceedingly influential due to power, which may make collaborations not feasible. Questions # 3 National Tourism Organizations (NTOs) comprises of distinct government and private sector bodies, which are largely or entirely involved in promotion of inbound tourism. The chief responsibility of the national tourism authorities is the promotion of tourism; while other government tourism authorities are involved in tourism matters other than promotion. Therefore, national tourism authorities are involved in other responsibilities other than promotion of tourism. For instance, national tourism authorities may have other functions other than tourism. These authorities may be involved in economic development, which makes involvement in tourism as a secondary goal. On the other hand, a national tourism organization may seek to promote tourism with little or no reference to wider social or economic policies other than when specifically ordered to do so by the government. One of the chief functions of National Tourism Organizations is provision of relevant information about tourism in a nation (Hall, 2008 pp 59). They serve as information providers. All data regarding tourism is under safe custody of the national tourism organizations. For example, in Britain, The British Tourist Authority is responsible for providing any data required for tourism since the authority has all the tourism information services of Britain. International and regional liaison is another function played by the national tourism organizations. Different national tourism organizations from different nations liaise with different nations in a certain region and the international community; in an attempt to promote tourism in the nation of origin. The organizations maintain strong international relationships with different countries that participate in tour the nation. Tourism policies in a nation are not just made without adequate advice. The national tourism organizations are usually involved in providing the relevant advice on tourism policies made. Since the making, of tourism policies may be involved with various problems due to the different parties involved in decision making, the national tourism organizations provide the necessary advice on the appropriateness or inadequacy of a certain tourism policy (Hamilton, 1970 pp 73). The organizations play an essential role in analyzing the different effects that a tourism policy will have on the nation. National tourism organizations usually favour those tourism policies that have an overall effect of developing a nation. National tourism organizations are usually involved in tourism research. Carrying out of research is essential for tourism promotion since it helps in coming up with the rightful information regarding tourism. For instance, development of new sites and their effect on national and international tourism helps in development of tourism. Without carrying out of adequate research, optimization of tourism would not be feasible. Hence, the tourism organizations help in optimizing the gains from tourism through facilitating tourism research. Trade is one of the components that cannot be separated from tourism. Hence, national tourism organizations usually take a responsibility in supporting trade. This is the responsibility, which make the organizations be involved in sales publications. Through trade, organization is capable of keeping records of tourism sales and is capable of providing such information through sales publications (Coles, 2008 pp 61). Most of the government policies on tourism are not geared towards the promotion of tourism, but national tourism organizations usually dominate in tourism promotion. Promotion of tourism is at the heart of the national tourism organization compared to other government tourism policies. Other government policies usually provide rules and guidelines, which tourism in a nation should follow while national tourism organization takes part in those responsibilities, which seek to promote tourism. Question # 4 Global economic downturns usually affect the entire globe and the international organizations are remarkably essential in maintaining successful tourism. One of such international organizations involved in the promotion of successful tourism is World Tourism Organization. This is a UN based organization, which plays an exceedingly vital role in maintaining of successful tourism. During global economic downturns, the economy of the globe is usually is affected, and the international organizations seek to promote economic sustainability through promotion of successful operations, which enhance economic development and sustainability. Tourism is one of the internationally recognized developments that bring global economic recovery and sustainability. This makes the World Tourism Organization be involved in maintaining successful tourism. This international organization is involved in various functions, which foster and maintain successful global tourism. One of the functions of the World Tourism Organization as an international tourism organization is carrying out of market research and statistics. It is through carrying out of the market research and obtaining of tourism statistics that help the organization in coming up with successful planning and global tourism policies. The research is crucial in obtaining relevant information, which help in boosting tourism and hence, economic sustainability. The organization concentrates on the global market research of tourism rather concentrating on a certain nation. This helps in the global economy recovery during times of global economic downturns. The World Tourism Organization is involved in training and supporting tourism education internationally. Through international education and training, the international organization of tourism helps in achieving successful tourism. It is through supporting tourism training and education that tourism fosters economic developments in different nations. The fostering of economic development, in different nations, helps in global economic recovery. Hence, the international organizations are crucial in maintaining successful tourism in times of global economic downturns. Another vital role played by the international organization in maintaining successful tourism during times of global economic downturns is the promotion of quality tourism services. The organization is involved in promoting quality tourism services through different programs that support and promote tourism. It is through offering of quality tourism services that tourism is promoted and becomes successful. This is done internationally, which helps in economic development and sustainability globally (Dhar, 2000 pp 57). In addition, it facilitates in the recovery of the global economy, during times of hardships. It is the role of the international organization for tourism to be involved in the international planning for tourism. In the making of tourism policies, the international organization for tourism is involved and helps in making of tourism policies, which encourage economic development globally. Through ensuring passage of those tourism policies that promote global economic development, the World Tourism Organization helps in maintaining successful tourism. It is through maintaining of successful tourism that the organization promotes economic development internationally. Communication and documentation of tourism information is another crucial role played by the World Tourism Organization. It is through gathering, communication and documentation of information regarding international tourism that the organization is capable of understanding and sharing of vital information of tourism, which can bring economic developments in different nations (Harris, 1999 pp 82). It is also through having relevant information about tourism; that the organization is capable of formulating policies that bring and maintain successful tourism in the different nations. The successful tourism brings about economic recovery globally during times of economic hardships. In addition, World Tourism organization, as an international organization, is involved in technical co-operations between the different nations. Tourism works better when there is co-operation among the different nations globally. Through these co-operations, tourism is made successful and is maintained globally. By making tourism successful and maintaining its success, the international organization promotes economic developments internationally. Through the different roles performed by the international organization in supporting tourism, it is clear that the international organizations are involved in maintaining successful tourism development during times of global economic downturn. The international organizations are, therefore, remarkably essential in determining the success of tourism internationally, and should always be highly encouraged in taking part in tourism. Hence, I highly agree with the statement that; international organizations are more salient than ever in maintaining successful tourism development during a prolonged economic downturn due to their chief functions that they play in making tourism successful over all the nations in the globe. Question # 5 Different governments are involved in tourism investment due to different reasons. One of the reasons why governments involve themselves in tourism investment is because tourism helps in improving the national income to the government (Becherel, 1995 pp 83). Through tourism investment, the government is capable of generating both foreign and domestic currencies, which add to the income of the nation. Another reason why government invest in tourism is due to the ability of tourism to generate employment opportunities to individuals of a certain nation. Governments usually invest in those elements that are beneficial to the nation. Through the provision, of employment services, the unemployment rate in the governments are reduced, which improves the lifestyles of the citizens of a nation. Governments are usually involved in tourism investment since tourism fosters regional development (Bruner, 1995 pp52). It is through tourism that governments cooperate with other governments of a given region. This helps in regional development of the different regions. It is tourism that brings regional cooperation, which promotes regional developments. Governments involve themselves in tourism investment since tourism fosters economic diversification. It is not advisable for a government to be involved in one line of product or services for economic development, which means that; it is essential for a government to be involved in other economic development services or products. Tourism provides an alternative service, which governments can rely on for economic developments. Hence, governments view tourism as a service that diversifies their economies. This helps in revenue generation, which can be used by the governments in offering public goods (Gee, 1999 pp 101). In addition, governments are involved in tourism investment since tourism helps in contributing to the balance of payments. Tourism can be identified as a form of trade, whereby services of a nation are sold to another nation. Through exchange of services from one nation to another, trade is enhanced, and governments can utilize resources from tourism to boost its current account balance. This helps in improving the balance of payment of the government. Hence, tourism is viewed as a significant contributor to the balance of payment of a given nation or government. Governments are usually involved in providing assistance and incentives to the tourism sector. One of the assistances that the government provide to the tourism sector is the provision of land for the location of tourist attraction centres. Most of the land, where tourist centres such as wildlife and museums are located; belong to the government (Reisinger, 2009 pp 76). The government usually provide this land for free to the tourism sector or offer the land at a subsidized value to the businesses wishing to support the tourism sector. Government usually supports the tourism sector through facilitating the decision making process affecting tourism. This may take the form of passing of regulations, which encourage and promote tourism in the nation. Without supporting certain regulations that promote tourism, success of the tourism sector would not be feasible. However, government involvement in passing laws and regulations promoting tourism ensure success of the tourism sector. Governments also offer incentives to the tourism sector through supporting businesses that host tourists. For example, the government may offer tax incentives to such businesses in order to fully support the tourism sector. In addition, the government supports the tourism sector through allocating resources to the sector. These resources are used in carrying out market research on tourism and help in the marketing of the sector. References Bruner, E 1995, International Tourism: identity and change, Wiley & Sons, New York. Becherel, L 1995, International Tourism: an economic perspective, Continuum, London. Bhatia, A 2006, International Tourism management, McGraw-Hill, New York. Coles, T 2008, International Business and Tourism: global issues, Taylor & Francis, London. Dhar, P 2000, International Tourism: emerging challenges and future prospects, Continuum, London. Gee, C 1999, International Tourism: a global perspective, Prentice Hall, London. Hall, C 2008, Tourism Planning: Policies, Processes and Relationships, Prentice Hall, London. Hamilton, J 1970, International Tourism, Taylor & Francis, London. Harris, G 1999, Promoting International Tourism, Prentice Hall, London. Inskeep, E 1991, Tourism Planning: an integrated and sustainable development approach, Van Nostrand Reinhold, London. Ward, S 1999, Selling Places: the marketing and promotion of towns and cities, Taylor & Francis, London. Reisinger, Y 2009, International Tourism: Cultures and Behaviour, Routledge, London. Richie, J 2009, Tourism: principles, practices, philosophies, Wiley & Sons, New York. Read More