Destination change influences
Over time, destinations change and develop, this occurs for a number of reasons, most significantly due the relationship between the marketplace (demand) and the destination (supply). This is because changes in demand create changes in supply and vice-versa (Hall, 2007). This relationship has been explored by Butler (1980) in the Tourism Area Life Cycle which illustrates the various stages that a destination passes through (Hall, 2007). (Figure 5, below.)
Butler’s, 1980 model of the hypothetical stages of the evolution of a tourist area is useful for tourism operators when planning for a destination as it acts as a guide as to how tourism will develop based on traditions and history of tourist destinations if left unattended. Because of this, the hypothetical stages, described in table 5 below, should be seen by tourism planners as a guide of how a destination would evolve if left unattended. This is because, tourism planners should aim to develop a tourism destination that does not follow this model due to the fact that this approach is not sustainable, for example, remaining in the development stage over a long period of time can have detrimental effects on the environment and local community and cannot be sustained.
In order to effectively develop a sustainable approach to tourism development, tourism planners must focus on the need to develop tourism in a way that ensures lasting and secure livelihoods that minimize resource depletion and social instability (Hall, 2007). To do this, they must integrate tourism into wider planning processes and promote goals of sustainable tourism (Testoni, 2001; Gossling & Hall, 2006, as cited in Hall, 2007).
Example
Earlier this year I traveled to Surfer Paradise on the Gold Coast. This is a popular tourist destination and it is constantly working to further develop and consolidate its image as a tourist hot spot. This can be evidenced through the major upgrade of the road infrastructure currently being carried out as well as the ever, changing and exciting attractions offered by destinations such as the theme parks.