2. Tourism Policy: Structure, Content, and Process15
Tourism Policy: Structure, Content, and Process

3. Learning Objectives
Demonstrate critical importance of tourism policy to competitiveness and sustainability of a tourism destination.
Outline the structure and content of a typical policy framework for a tourism destination.
Identify some methods, techniques, and approaches used to assist in tourism policy formulation.

4. The Competitive/Sustainable Tourist Destination: A Managerial Framework

5. Tourism Policy: A Definition
Tourism policy can be defined as:
A set of regulations, rules, guidelines, directives, and development/promotion objectives and strategies that provide a framework within which the collective and individual decisions directly affecting tourism development and the daily activities within a destination are taken.

6. Residents of the “Host” Destination
Examples of the many “stakeholders” in tourism within a given Destination/region
Residents of the “Host” Destination
Local/Municipal/Regional/Provincial/Nat ional Governments
Local/Regional/National Environmental Groups
Local visitors/excursionists
Remote visitors/tourists

7. Tourism industry sectors:
Examples of the many “stakeholders” in tourism within a given Destination/region (continued)
Tourism industry sectors:
Transportation
Accommodation
Attractions
Events
Commercial Outdoor Recreation
Commercial Visitor Service
Destination Management Organization (DMO)
Culture/Heritage Groups
Social/Health/Education Groups

8. Areas Addressed by Tourism Policy
Roles of tourism within overall socio-economic development of destination region
Type of destination that will most effectively fulfill the desired roles
Taxation – types and levels
Financing for tourism sector – sources and terms
Nature. direction of product development/maintenance
Transportation access and infrastructure
Regulatory practices (e.g., airlines, travel agencies)
Environmental practices and restrictions
Industry image, credibility
Community relationships
Human resources and labor supply
Union and labor legislation
Technology
Marketing practices
Foreign travel rules

9. ELEMENTS OF SUCCESSFUL “TOTAL TOURISM DESTINATION MANAGEMENT”

10. General Economic & Social Policies Affecting Tourism
Taxation – affects costs and profitability
Interest Rate Policy – affects costs and profitability
Bilateral Air Agreements – determine foreign visitor access
Environmental Policy – limits growth and access to attractive, but sensitive areas
Customs and Immigration Policy – can facilitate or hinder international visitation
Communications Policy – can restrict use of certain advertising media

11. General Economic & Social Policies Affecting Tourism (continued)
Minimum Wage Policy – can affect labor markets
Welfare Policy – can influence nature, behavior of work force
Education Policy – can affect quality of workforce
Cultural Policy – can affect preservation and promotion of national heritage
Foreign Investment Policy/Regulations – can affect availability of investment capital
Local Zoning Policy/By-Laws – can restrict or encourage tourism facility development

12. General Economic & Social Policies Affecting Tourism (continued)
National/Provincial/Local Policy re: funding support for major public facilities (e.g., stadiums, convention centers, museums, parks) – can drastically affect destination attractiveness
Infrastructure Policy – can make destination safer for visitors, or restrict resident travel to foreign destinations
Currency/Exchange Rate Policies – directly affects destination cost competitiveness
Legal System – determines consumer/visitor protection legislation (e.g., liability for failing to deliver advertised facilities/tours/experiences)

13. Tourism: Some of its multiple interfaces with other sectors of the economy and society
Legal/Political
Players
Environmental
Technology
Movement T O U R I S M
Sector
Entertainment
Industry
Health Services
Sector
Financial
Sector
Resource
Extraction
Education
Sector
Industries

14. The Structure and Composition of Tourism Policy

15. Destination Vision Framework

16. The Process of Tourism Policy, Strategy Formulation and Implementation