THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Principal Investigator Prof. S. P. Bansal, Vice Chancellor, Indira Gandhi University, Rewari
Co-Principal Investigator Dr. Prashant K. Gautam, Director, UIHTM, Panjab University, Chandigarh
Paper Coordinator Dr. Prashant K. Gautam, Director, UIHTM, Panjab University, Chandigarh
Paper Co-Coordinator Dr. Amit Katoch, Assistant Professor, UIHTM, Panjab University, Chandigarh
Content Writer Dr. Amit Katoch, Assistant Professor, UIHTM, Panjab University, Chandigarh
Content Reviewer Prof. Sheeba Hamid, Department of Commerce, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, U.P.
Paper 12: Tourism Planning and Sustainable Development Module-16: Planning for tourism Destinations
TERMS DESCRIPTION OF MODULE
Subject Name Tourism & Hospitality
Paper Name Tourism Planning and Sustainable Development
Module No. 16
Module Title Planning for tourism Destinations
Objectives To study the concept of Planning and why there is a need for planning Keywords Planning ,Tourism Destination
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Learning Outcome 2. Introduction
2.1 What is Tourism?
2.2 What is Tourism Destination?
3. Meaning and Concept of Planning
3.1 Tourism Destination Planning 4. Steps in Tourism Destination Planning
5. Role of Sustainable tourism in destination planning 6. Summary
After completing this module, students you will be able to:
What is tourism?
What is tourism destination?
Meaning and concept of planning
Tourism destination planning
Importance of tourism destination planning
Steps in tourism destination planning
Role of Sustainable tourism in destination planning
1. Introduction
When we talk about tourism, we consider mainly of tourists or guests who are visiting a specific place or a destination for sightseeing, visiting friends and relatives, taking a vacation, and having a good time. The tourist devote their leisure time in plethora of events such as getting married, while doing adventure; taking sunshine, playing various sport activities, taking outings, touring, reading, or liking the environment or just chilling out.
Let’s talk more about the subject, we may incorporate in our tourism, people who are being part of an activity or may be an event, conference or any other kind of business activity or personal and it also includes the people who are travelling with the purpose of studies or research.
These visitors use different types of transportation depending upon the destination, tourism type and most importantly depending on the taste of the tourists. This may vary from cycling to biking or car to aircraft to have a memorable & pleasant experience.
This module will be discussing tourism planning methods or styles to achieve or reach to the desired goals and objectives of tourism development for a tourist destination whether national or international.
And, a tourism destination can be an entire country, a region, an island, a resort area, or a single project.
Figure: Different Types of Transportation in Tourism Sources: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BZf6frPNrhg/maxresdefault.jpg
2. What is tourism?
Over the years the definition of tourism has experienced a change along with the historical changes.
According to Hunziker and Krapf “Tourism is the total of the phenomena and connections rising from the travel and holiday of non-residents, in so far as it do not lead to permanent house and is not linked to any earning activity”.
This definition focuses on travel and stay, but ignores day trips, business trips etc. and the overlapping of these boundaries with other practices.
But, later on significant changes were made in the definition of Tourism depending on the experience of the tourists and the time span they spend at a destination outside their place of origin or residence.
Figure: Definition of tourism given by League of Nations
Source: https://www.slideshare.net/xiclaire/japans-inbound-tourism-history
In 1937, the League of Nations recommended that tourism is the phenomena which focuses on the social activities of the people travelling to a new destination for more than 24 hours from his/her usual native place.
However, the limitation of this definition was that it excluded domestic and emphasized only on international tourism.
Further to facilitate the concept of tourism, the League of Nation categorized traveller’s into two categorizes- one that are “tourists” and second which are not.
Figure: Definition of tourism given by IUOTO
Source: https://image.slidesharecdn.com/leipersmodel-141103110755-conversion-gate02/95/leipers-model-3-638.jpg?cb=1415012953
Though the maximum time of the stay was not set. Following years, IUOTO recommended changes to the tourism definition and segregation of term “excursionist” and “transit travellers” from the tourist terminology.
In 1953, the statistical commission of the UN replaced the League of Nations and introduce the term “visitor”.
“Visitor was defined as a non-resident intending to remain for a period of one year without having remuneration for a profession and not staying for more than 12 months as a maximum limit”.
In the same year, another definition unlike the earlier definition for tourist was given i.e. “any person (...) who enters the territory of a contracting State other than that in which the person normally resides and remains there for not less than 24 hours and not more than 6 months, as long as that journey is due to a legitimate non-immigrant such as tourism, recreation, sports, health, family reasons, study, religious pilgrimages or business”.
Further, in 1963, the Rome Conference on Tourism adopted the recommendation to replace the term “tourist” with the term “visitor”.
He defined visitor as “any person visiting a country other than that in which he has his usual place of residence, for any purpose other than following an occupation remunerated there”.
Further this definition covered two categories of visitors i.e. ‘tourist’ and ‘excursionist’
(IUOTO, 1963). In 1968, this definition was recognized, but gave freedom to each country to use the term “excursionist or same day visitor”.
However, subsequently the UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) gave directives regarding the formation of the tourism statistics, which started publishing in 1971.
After 1963, the explanation & definitions given by IUOTO were accepted and the visitor was categorized into- “tourists” and “excursionist or same day visitors”.
They may be defined as:
Tourist’s: are the category of visitor’s who spend at least one night or more than 24 hours at a place and their purpose may be categorized firstly into leisure and secondly into business, mission, meeting or family. The leisure comprises holidays, recreation, study, health, religion and sports.
Same day visitors or Excursionist’s: are the categories of visitor’s who do not stay for night and generally their stay is less than 24 hours at an accommodation or lodgings.
On 27th September (1970), IUOTO’s special general assembly meet in Mexico (in Mexico City) approved “the statutes (rules or laws) of the UNWTO (i.e. United Nations World Tourism Organization). The first meeting of UNWTO met in Madrid (Spain) on request &
invite of Spanish government. And, Robert Lonati became the first UNWTO Secretary General, wherein the headquarters’ of the organization were established at Madrid. From 1980, onwards, 27th September was celebrated as “World Tourism Day”.
Figure: Types of Travellers
Source: http://slideplayer.com/slide/7777624/25/images/5/Basic+tourism+units+TRAVELERS+VISITORS+OTHER.jpg
In the earlier definitions, international tourism was only discussed, so UNWTO now also started taking into account the national tourists or domestic visitors in definition of domestic tourism.
The UN statistical commission in 1993, approved the definition of “visitor” which has been used before and was the main concept of the tourism statistics.
The visitor was categorized into following ‘tourists’ and ‘day visitors’ and all of them were described as follows:
Visitor: the basic concept was defined as a person going (travelling) to a place or tourist destination outside his usual environment or place of residence for less than 12 months and that he/she is not getting any remuneration to the destination or place visited (United Nations, 1994).
Tourist: the category of visitors which stay at least for one night in a collective or private accommodation in the place/country visited (United Nations, 1994).
Same-day visitors: the category of visitors who do not stay for a night in a collective or private accommodation in the place/country visited (United Nations, 1994).
Tourism– is a phenomenon where a tourist travels to new place and stays there for more than 24 hours with the purpose of business, leisure or visiting friends and family.
Excursion–excursion is a temporary visit to a new place not for more than 24 hours.
This definition also ignored the domestic tourist, although it did identify the day visitor. The Tourism Society of Britain in 1976 proposed to simplify the concept of tourism by saying that “movement of people for short period of time or on temporary basis to a new place/destination, where he/she is involved in recreational or business activity during the time of stay. In simple aspects tourism can be defined as what visitor’s do. By UNWTO definition, it is “the activity of persons travelling”, but in this case the object of tourism would be confused with its subject (Cunha, n.d). Many researchers or tourism scholars may consider it as a system (Leiper (1979) (see fig 16.1), Gun (1994), Lainé (1989) etc.). To some it may appear as a phenomenon (Burkart and Medlik (1981) (see fig 16.2), Papadopoulos (1986) Tribe (2006), Mathieson and Wall (1982) etc.) and to some it may appear as a human activity which involves use of resources & host-guest interaction.
For some it may appear as an inter displinary area where there is interaction of social sciences such as psychology, politics, anthropology, law, statistics etc. All these aspects highlight that various outlooks can be observed and nothing is right or wrong. The observations and explanations vary from one person to other.
However, they stand as an evolution path in course of study. And result in good understanding of the concept which involves host-guest interaction which is a win-win situation for both players who have an important role to play in tourism.
UNWTO has also defined International Tourism who travels outside his place of residence which involves various countries &requirements documents (passport & VISA);
mode of transport (preferably air), language understanding, different environment and many aspects. Though, the tourism phenomenon can be categorized into different types involving
own country or foreign country or individuals which are residents or non-residents. And hence, the tourism can be categorized into three types from which other tourism arise.
Figure: Types of Tourism (UNWTO)
Source: https://image.slidesharecdn.com/thetourismindustrychapter1-111117225112-phpapp01/95/the-tourism-industry-chapter-1-9- 728.jpg?cb=1321570304
Inbound tourism: involving foreign or non-citizens to come for tourism activity in other countries from their own country.
Outbound tourism: involves citizens of a country to travel to foreign tourist destinations from their own country.
Domestic tourism: involves citizens of a country and to travel their own country.
The various tourism derived from the UNWTO concepts of inbound, outbound and domestic tourism are:
International Tourism: It involves both inbound and outbound tourism.
Internal Tourism: It involves domestic tourism and inbound tourism.
National Tourism: It involves domestic tourism and outbound tourism.
Figure: Tourism Destination (Dubai)
Source: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT-7y2ftGTJZrwCldfLxj5fUYI9_xzUwCN-xwg8MIct8t6JgD1FnQ
3. What is Tourism Destination?
One of the most often used terms in tourism is ‘destination’, but it is used very inversely by diverse authors. In the literature ‘destinations’ seem to be defined as images, as narratives.
‘Destinations’ seem to be defined through their matter of attractions, facilities and services.
At ‘destinations’ contacts may take place between the tourists and the businesses, mutually in the tourist industry, and between the single establishment and the tourist organizations and the authorities.
Jensen, Hansen and Metz in the year 1993 gave a definition which is very close to that we have learned earlier that is “Tourism destination is a geographical area, which consists of variety of landscapes and cultural characteristics and also have different facilities like transport, accommodation, restaurants, cafes, food units which helps to create a unique experience.”
A tourist destination refers to a physical area in which a tourist spends or invests his/her time for at least 24hrs or a night, the destination can comprise different tourism
products and numerous support services like n number of places and different resources within one days return time.
It has physical and organizational boundaries defining its management, and images and perceptions stating its market effectiveness.
Local destinations include various stakeholders often including a host community, and can nest and network to form larger destinations.
Figure: Scale of Tourism Destination can be small or big
Source: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQiUgiwOXInOyWiuCsj09fFtC_a8q7l33tDpYTRw5j5lgxOgG1dJw
Destinations could be on any scale or size, from a whole country e.g. India, a region such as north India and island such as Lakshadweep, to a village, town or city, or a self-contained like centre National museum, Delhi. (Raina & Aggarwal, 2004)
Tourism destinations is the centre of tourism phenomenon and involves 5 A’s i.e.
attractions, amenities, accessibility, accommodation and awareness.
4. Meaning and Concept of Planning
Planning also called forethought is the procedure of idea and creating the activities important to get a desired goal or the idea.
It involves the creation and protection of a plan, such as psychological parts that need theoretical skills.
There are even a number of tests to measure someone’s capability of planning. As such, planning is an important property of smart behaviour.
Also, planning has an exact process and is important for numerous jobs (particularly in fields such as management, commerce, etc.).
In each field there are diverse types of plans that help companies attain efficiency and effectiveness.
Although often overlooked aspect of planning, is the relationship it holds to forecasting.
Forecasting can be defined as what the future will look like, whereas planning forecasts what the future should look like for many situations.
Planning combines forecasting with preparation of circumstances and how to react to them.
Planning is one of the most significant project management and time management method.
Planning is ordering an arrangement of action steps to achieve some specific goal.
If a person does it effectively and efficiently, they can reduce the needed time and effort for achieving the goal.
A plan is like a map or a blueprint.
Planning is a very important aspect for every organisation/company in order to achieve the desired goals.
Proper planning can lead to reach the desired goals or destination with more efficiency and effectiveness.
In order to reach the targets, there is always a need for a proper and effective plan.
A good plan is blue print of the activities to be done and the methods or techniques to be used for reaching a target or destination. it also help to reduce the cost and the time constraint.
Complete utilisation can be done through a proper plan.
Figure: Tourism Destination planning
Source: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSQNYedd0AqA4uGAJB_h-m7N1tKc-VvvMdjtRiapMDg09OQNky7
3.1 Tourism destination Planning
Tourism offers a foremost economic development to a particular destination or an area and also provides opportunity for many countries and also gives income for improving the quality of life of its residents.
Both the government sector and private sectors are involved in tourism and both focuses on tourism planning and to achieve sustainable tourism development.
Figure: Sustainable Tourism does not harm the locals
Source: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR9Fnqa8fGKCtW8f-e8mxf3OoRA_nipgBJkmC5HHy-iwOygXUxJ
The sustainable tourism does not harm the locals instead respects the local communities, creates suitable/sufficient employment, helps in maintenance of the natural environment, and tends to delivers a quality visitor experience.
However, many tourism destinations or areas have followed development without proper planning and without considering the countless impacts of such development which it will bring to the community.
3.2 Importance of Tourism Destination Planning
Tourism planning is mainly done for socio-economic development. It is directed to tourism- related objectives which also vary between the public sector and the private sector.
In the public sector, most of the planning is done by the government.
Figure: Sustainable Tourism balances social, environment and economic factors Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Sustainable_development.svg/1200px-Sustainable_development.svg.png
It primarily focuses on the economy and the social factors, use of land and zoning controls, focus on environmental problems, plans for infrastructure development, focus on employment generation, and the provision of public services.
Whereas private sector planning is usually focused with the aim of investment objectives involving numerous traits of product development, buildings and design, financial feasibility, marketing and promotion, management and operations.
The importance should be given to destination planning on following basis:
1) Valuation of the possible impacts of development and the resource difficulties which will be faced:
Planning for a tourism destination first assess or analysis the impacts on both the environment and the society or the local community of a particular destination. Which, means that how much impact, development would cause on a particular area or the destination?
And, whether it will be harmful or helpful for the growth of the society or lead to the protection of the environment. And, also looks on the problems of availability of resources for the development at a particular area/destination.
Figure: Valuation of the possible impacts of development
Source: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRcH_c2igqLS7PEke1duBstTtv8QHWv3zS1g5J9JyDeaA9ilXLM
Figure: Competitive status of a tourism destination and its ability to respond Source: https://searchengineland.com/bidding-competition-really-worth-258398
2) It examines the competitive status of a tourism destination and its ability to respond to changes in the current travel market:
Planning for a tourism destination also see and analyse about the potential of a particular destination or area or the competitive status of the destination.
And, that how far the destination can compete with the other destinations available for the tourists to visit.
And, whether the destination would be able to respond to the changes in the current travel market.
Are there enough tourism resources to compete and attract more tourists towards it and give the amount of satisfaction a tourist wish for.
Planning is done keeping in mind all these aspects before development of a tourism destination.
Figure: Level of stability between factors of a tourist destination
Source: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRcH_c2igqLS7PEke1duBstTtv8QHWv3zS1g5J9JyDeaA9ilXLM
3) Delivering a level of stability and predictability in the advancement of the overall development of tourism in a given area/destination:
Tourism destination development also focuses on providing a level of stability and predictability in the progress of the overall development of tourism in a particular given area/destination, planning plays a crucial role in providing a stability to a tourist destination and also predicts the progress rate that at what speed the overall development of a tourism destination is taking place. (Ramakrishna, 2010).
5. Steps in Tourism Destination Planning:
Figure: What we want to do in the Tourism Destination?
Source: https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--zfxFTcn6--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/18qp70mocrz1jjpg.jpg
Step 1.What do we want to do?
The first step in tourism planning is what we want to do, which means what is the plan and how do we execute it at the first place. And, keeping in mind the available resources and how to use them in a way that full utilisation can be done.
Figure: Who is, or could be involved?
Source: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/getting-involved-on-your-campus-is-important
Step 2.Who is, or could be involved?
The second step in tourism destination planning is what are the available human resource with us and what the alternates are, should more people or group of people should be involved in the process.
And surely, the involvement of the local community can be a good option, as it would be helpful for the growth of hosts as well as for the destination.
Figure: Valuation of the possible impacts of development Source: https://pixabay.com/p-1019820/?no_redirect
Step 3.What is known?
The third step focuses on what is known to us i.e. what are the available tourism resources like attractions, natural environment, heritage and culture, things to do for a tourist and other activities like adventure tourism, culinary tourism etc. at a particular area or destination.
Step 4.What makes this region, place or product special?
The fourth step in the process of tourism destination planning is to identify the special and unique aspect or product of that particular area/region/destination.
So, that it can be used in a positive and effective manner for the development of tourist destination.
The unique product should be used as a USP for tourism development and growth, this can only happen if proper products are identified and USP are created.
Figure: To identify the special and unique aspect or product of that particular area/region/destination.
Source: https://rashidfaridi.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/creating-customer-loyalty-in-the-travel-and-tourism-industry-3-638.jpg
Figure: To know the various issues Source: http://www.mrcci.com.au/what-are-your-top-5-business-issues/
Step 5. What are the issues?
The fifth step in the process of tourism destination development is to look on to or identify the major issues faced by that particular area or destination like economic, socio and environmental.
The correct identification of issues can help in analysing and finding the right solutions or alternatives for the development and growth of the region/destination.
If one knows about the issues than only, he can set up certain standards or make plans in order to overcome the current issues arising at that region/destination.
Figure: Analysis of various issues in tourism destination Source: http://coloradoforcarroll.com/issues/
Step 6. Analysing issues
The sixth step in the process of tourism destination development is to analyse the identified issues at a particular region/destination.
And accordingly find out alternates and solution to the problems or issues, and further correcting or improving the issues by applying the possible solutions or measures.
Figure: Formation of certain principles and objectives to reach a planned tourism destination Source: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRcH_c2igqLS7PEke1duBstTtv8QHWv3zS1g5J9JyDeaA9ilXLM
Step 7. Principles or objectives to guide actions
The seventh step in the process of tourism destination planning is to form certain principles and objectives on the basis of which actions or steps can be taken in order to reach a certain level of planned development of the area/destination.
Figure: To bring suggestion and own ideas into work Source: https://appirio.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/idea.jpg
Step 8. What are your ideas and options?
The eighth step in the process of tourism destination planning is to bring your own ideas and suggestion into work.
Also, try to find out the best possible options which can benefit in terms of tourism destination development. And, putting the best abstract ideas into practical work that can lead to healthy development of a destination
Figure: The steps taken for development of tourism destination Source: http://thesvas.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/How-to-do-it-01-770x285.jpg
Step 9. How to do it?
The ninth step in the process of tourism destination planning is that what steps should be taken or what techniques or methods should be used in the process of development or improvement of a tourism destination.
Proper analysis has to be done and depending upon the conditions and resources available various methods or techniques are to be used for the destination planning and development.
Figure: To follow statement of directions to grow development & growth in tourism destination
Source: https://geresidents.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/future-directions-v2.jpg
Step10. Statement of directions
The tenth and the last step in the process of tourism destination planning is to follow the statement of the direction in order to achieve a certain level of growth and development if statement of direction is properly followed, it can take one to growth and improvement in the applied field. (Jamal & Getz, 1995).
Figure: Role of sustainability in destination planning
Source: https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e5R6rjqwqes/VzMMJLVhvkI/AAAAAAAAABw/jlLEJfpjWoQiG00tYmIjJOiE2teXzYttQCLcB/s1600/Immagine1.jpg
6. Role of Sustainable tourism in destination planning
Sustainable tourism plays an important role in destination planning. According to UNWTO, it may be defined as: "Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities"
Theoretically, Sustainable tourism philosophies refer to the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural facets of tourism development, and maintaining a balance between them, so that no one overpowers each other and there is a long term growth which prospers all the stakeholders especially the local community.
Hence, it employs the guidelines and management practises which protects the resources, lead to their judicial resources and also applies to all forms of tourism whether green tourism, agro tourism, rural tourism or the mass tourism.
Hence, sustainable tourism benefits the people, nature and society in the following way:
1) Leads to optimal use of ecological possessions that are very important in development of tourism, protection of flora & fauna & also maintaining a balance among them.
2) It gives pride and respect to the local & host communities and helps in restoration of culture by giving it authenticity, preserving their heritage, culture, traditions, and contributing to universal brotherhood and world peace.
3) Guarantees sustainable, long-term commercial operations, leading to socio-economic development to all stakeholders by providing them employment, avenues for livelihood, poverty alleviation and improving the services to the local communities.
Hence, development of Sustainable tourism would result only due to the participation of all relevant stakeholders, a firm political support for wide participation and consent building. It is an unceasing progression and requires relentless checking of impacts, taking corrective measures and addressing the economic, social & ecological implications in a balanced way without harming mother earth. It brings satisfaction to both host and guests. To the tourists, it provides a unique experience; on the contrary it provides opportunities & judicial use of resources through participation of the local community.
7. Summary
Planning is a very important part of development in each and every field.
Proper planning can lead you to the desired goals or targets.
Planning plays an essential or an important role in the achievement of set targets or goals as it decreases the chances of failing. Planning is required at every aspect of life.
Proper planning can lead a destination to a longer span/period of time in destination life cycle.
With the help of proper planning the available tourism resources can be put up at right places and enhances the sustainability of that particular destination.
Planning can also help in conservation and protection of the natural environment of a destination, preservation of cultural heritage, customs and lifestyle of the local communities, protection of wildlife and forests etc.
Proper planning help in development of a tourism destination which further increases opportunities for employment, infrastructure development and helps in improving the quality of life of the local communities. It also helps in increasing the income level of the locals which further helps in strengthening the economy of the country.
Sustainable tourism plays an important role in destination planning. It refer to the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural facets of tourism development, and maintaining a balance between them, so that no one overpowers each other and there is a long term growth which prospers all the stakeholders especially the local community.
Hence, it employs the guidelines and management practises which protects the resources, lead to their judicial resources and also applies to all forms of tourism whether green tourism, agro tourism, rural tourism or the mass tourism.
