1. This Topic:
Examine tourism destination regions in international tourism systems
Recognise tourism generating regions and transit routes/hubs in international tourism systems
Reviews Butler’s (1980) ‘Resort Cycle’ theory
Considers the concept of ‘destination competiveness’

2. Factors Shaping Traveller Generation
Population size
Gross economic propensity
Income distribution & wealth
Spare time
Demographic profile
Tastes & preferences
Transport facilities
Fares/price
Exchange rates
Promotion
Travel constraints – politics, illness, safety

3. Tourism Industries in TGRs
Service tourist needs pre-trip:
Retail travel agencies
Promotional activity by NTOs, STOs, RTOs, LTOs
Marketing - tour operators + wholesalers
Other service industries

4. Tourist Generating Regions (TGRs)
Where trips begin. Consider these perspectives:
Spatial (geographical)
where residents depart on a trip that is more than a day-trip
Economic
the resources tourists use on a trip are generated in TGR
Culture and psychological
a place generates tourist travel when conditions (environments) shape residents needs & motivations – the ‘push’ factors

5. The role of Transit Routes
Consider:
Transit route efficiency
Accessibility
Travel time
Fares + other travel costs
Availability of carrier/other transport
Capacity
Frequency of service
Changes in transit Discomfort Perceived safety Attractions en route Number of stopovers Places in dual roles: TRs and TDRs
A supporting role – ‘the paths that must be traversed to get from home to a destination, to additional destinations in many cases, and then home again’ (Leiper, 2004:122)

6. What is a destination?
Focus of facilities & services designed to meet needs of tourists
Most destinations comprise:
Attractions
Access
Amenities
Ancillary Services

7. Appropriate Quote
‘Every destination has unique mix of characteristics, determined by its location, culture and history. These, together with the area’s degree of dependency on tourism, and industry’s seasonal and structural characteristics, influence the experiences of visitors and residents.
The development of a systems model for each destination can clarify the importance of each element in a particular locality (Laws 1995:37)’.

8. Common features of destinations
Destinations are:
Cultural appraisals
Inseparable
Not just about tourists but many other groups
Comprise elements that have to be complementary

9. Butler’s (1980) model Figure 2.3 The tourist area life-cycle
Sources: Butler, 1980; Boniface and Cooper, 2009

10. TALC – usefulness and criticisms
Focus of many studies –applied model of destination evolution, a guide for marketing and planning, a forecasting tool
Model shows general trend over time
An explanatory model
However,
Different parts of some destinations may be at different stages of TALC cycle
Visitation and other data necessary to support TALC stages
Model needs to be applied to each location showing political, social and economic influences as modifying factors

11. Destination Competiveness
Begins with identifying:
‘Comparative advantage’
‘Competitive advantage’

12. Model of Destination Competiveness (Ritchie & Crouch 2003)

13. Destination Competiveness - a Tourism Context
Competiveness of what?
Economic prosperity –
Opportunity to showcase a destination as a place to live, do business, invest in, and trade with
A country or the people of a country

14. Competitiveness for what?
Market segments
Outbound tourism
Inbound tourism
Resource allocation for tourism

15. How do we measure competiveness?
Indicators of competitive performance & factors which contribute to competitiveness:
Historic measures - describe how a destination has performed related to enhancing prosperity
Conditions which contribute to, or detract from, ability of destination to be competitive
EG: GDP, level of expenditure on research & development, population health, education standards, nature of workforce – employment structures

16. Dimensions of competitiveness
Identifying + developing factors which determine competitiveness, thus, prosperity of a tourism destination
Characteristics of a region which make it attractive to visit
Barriers which deter travel to a destination
Effectiveness of marketing to enhance perceived attractiveness
Effectiveness of organisation structures and strategic alliances
Ability of destination to assemble and interpret information providing insights + understanding to design + develop high appeal experiences more quickly than competitors
Capability of destination to deliver a high quality visitor experience

17. Then…
Determine most appropriate indicators of success concerning performance of tourism to destination prosperity
Establish relative strength + positioning of a destination in relation to competitors in the market

18. Figure 2.1 Destination management concepts

19. Sourcing relevant data
Apply these indicators to your destination.
What outcomes present in your explanation of tourism at the destination?
List outcomes.
All aspects of DC are valid. Yet complexity of concept means only some features will be evident. Use those features to explain how DC resonates at your chosen tdr.