Lecture: Destination Theory (C)
,00 Introduction
These web lectures are a short block of information in which the Conceptual Model of Destination
Competitiveness will be explained. The book is necessary. The model has five horizontal bars, we
start at the bottom and work our way up. We’ll use London as our example.
SUPPORTING FACTORS AND RESOURCES
Infrastructure Accessibility Facilitating Resources Hospitality Enterprise Political will
01 Infrastructure
The infrastructure is a supporting factor/resource. Supporting factors and resources support or
provide a foundation upon which a successful tourism industry can be established. The supporting
factors are:
Infrastructure Hospitality
Accessibility Enterprise
Facilitating resources Political will
General infrastructure is:
Airport, rail, bus terminals
Electrical power, sanitation, drainage
Telecommunications, internet
Financial systems, education system
National defense
Normally delivered by government (but may have been privatized)
Level of on-going investment
Services of infrastructure:
Food stores, book stored, hairdressers, garages, gas stations
Normally delivered by private sector
Quality of infrastructure:
Cannot be assessed with simple measures
Can vary within destination
Reliability, safety, efficiency
Good design (signage at airport)
Simple to use tube system with clear maps
How does it help tourism?
How would you compare the infrastructure at your destination to the infrastructure of competitors?
, 02 Accessibility
Accessibility: ease or difficulty involved in travelling to and entering the region concerned. The
accessibility depends on:
Formal barriers (visa) Airline landing rights
Political control How can a destination influence it the
Often wanted from government accessibility?
Compared to competitors, what accessibility advantages does your destination have?
03 Facilitating Resources
Human Knowledge Resources:
Human Resources Diversity of skills & knowledge
Expectations regarding skill levels Specialist training
needed Academic institutions
Tourism product is delivered by those Attitude to career in tourism
working in tourism to serve the
tourists
Financial Capital Resources:
Cost of Human Resources (wages, taxes)
Does tourism interest generate revenue?
Is that revenue fed back to training?
How does the destination encourage investment?
How to foster a financially successful industry?
In what way do your destination’s facilitating resources give it a competitive advantage?
04 Hospitality
Hospitality is extremely important. Without hospitality, visitors may never come back. Hospitality is
the attitude of the residents towards tourists.
Hospitality:
Hospitality of residents general supporting factor
How can destinations encourage permanent residents to be friendly to tourists?
High service, warm welcome, well treated -> huge impact on the experience
Friendliness is not enough
How welcoming to tourism are the locals at your destination?