Key Concepts in Tourism Policy and Planning - Literature review Example

TOURISM POLICY AND PLANNING. by Course Professor Institution City and state Date Tourism Policy and Planning Key concepts in tourism policy and planning The key concepts underlying tourism, policy and planning provides an insight as well as the larger scope of what tourism entails. The first concept is the definition of tourism as a temporary movement of individuals outside their normal residence or workplace, activities undertaken by those destinations and the facilities and services provided catering their needs. Generally it is referred to as “all travel” thus travel and tourism is related. The author puts emphasis on the incorporation of planning in the coordination of tourism activities. Secondly is the pluralistic nature of tourism where the author describes other sectors that tourism is run apart from the common business aspect (Gunn 2002). The identified sectors include non-profit and government. Thirdly is the concept of development in the context of the identified sectors and those of the tourists. Each of the identified sectors has their own policy frameworks suiting their development goals. The article argues that the three sectors constitute static policies because policies are made in one place and tourists have a dynamic characteristic. Fourthly is the direction and focus of planning in tourism, the focus areas underlying this concept entails achieving visitor satisfaction, protecting resource assets, community, area integration and improvement of economy and business success (Gunn 2002). The fifth concept is philosophical and process change in regard to policies and planning of tourism whereby there is an emphasis on public involvement and participation by three sectors. Finally is the concept of planning tourism development and the article puts emphasis on the need to differentiate regional, destination zone or site scales. These concepts are notably vital for the achievement of tourism sustainability attributed to suitable policies adopted and efficient planning. History of tourism, policy and planning Policy and planning are new concepts in tourism but it has become an area of interest. The interest as provided in the article was influenced by social constructionist and critical research approaches trying to explain how and why tourism planning and policy making happens. The second influence is the post-disciplinary perspective which eased understanding of planning and policy making processes at its inception. Thirdly is the knowledge gained from the reflective practice and attention to ethics and values also influences critical and interpretive development of tourism policy and planning. In western developed countries changes in socio-political and ideological aspects are linked to tourism planning and policy. With the restructuring of the governments in 1980s led to business influenced public policy as well as planning. Sustainability emphasis by governments in late 1980s led to the infiltration of the tourism sector and the focus was on planning and policy making (Dredge & Jenkins 2007). Tourism policy and planning no longer took place only in government institutions, policy making as well as rational planning triggering the need to understand the social worlds where government interventions were implemented. New spaces in tourism policy and planning are attributed to shifts in ideological and public management (Dredge & Jenkins 2007). The approaches ascribed by researchers' notable sense making and stories enable understanding of a wider scope of tourism planning and policy. The lens of constructivist-interpretive is adopted to deduce the sense underlying tourism planning and policy case study are criticizing and identifying the underlying challenges. Authors in the article argue that the history of tourism planning and policy is an influence and surrounded by ethical issues, political intrigues, power imbalances and leadership manipulations of knowledge. Sustainable tourism The 2003 journal article by Liu, entitled Sustainable development: A critique provides that sustainability originates from the environmental movement in 1970s. Sustainability is provided to entail balancing current and future needs against long-term strategic vision. Sustainable tourism is planning and acting for the future of tourism sector. The introduction of sustainability to tourism is attributed to dissatisfaction with the existing tourism products, growing environmental awareness, realizing the preciousness of resources and their vulnerability and attitude change by tourism stakeholders because of changing environmental conditions (Liu 2003, p. 461). Sustainability is more than just ecological concerns, it creates potential for long-term resilience, well-being endurance and adaptation ecological, economics, politics and cultural domains. Sustainable tourism is argued in the article to safeguard all the tourism assets also known as tourism resources. The resources include environmental like ecological environment; economic such as business and employment opportunities; socio-cultural like unique language and political like laws protecting unique areas of World Heritage Status (Liu 2003). Tourist resources provided include material object, cultural practice, economic activity, common resources or political process and notably do not have intrinsic value. Planning for sustainable tourism needs consideration of the past, present and future; tourist destination planning requires the transformation of attractions for the tourist, infrastructure and physical and social settings. Sustainability of tourism resources requires the effort of the public population and favourable government policy and regulation. It has to meet regional, national and global public policy of safeguarding tourism resources in the short- and long-term. In general sustainable tourism policy and planning should mediate interests and values of all the stakeholders in the tourism industry who have interest in the tourism resources. Conduction tourism fieldwork and site C. Michael Hall in the article “Researching the political in tourism where knowledge meets power” provides that tourism research is undisputedly linked to issues of politics. Politics affects character and location of tourism development, permission to travel, permission to study certain subjects. Therefore politics encompassing power influences questions and the assumptions in conducting tourism fieldwork and site. This is because tourism fieldwork is a subject entails theoretical locations and sites that are highly contested. Studies in tourism dominate managerialism and economist therefore it is dominated by rationalist and political conceptualizations. The Australian Federal Government has been playing a vital role in tourism research, therefore, the private sector is reluctant to undertake fieldwork since they may criticize the industry and fear the consequences. Fieldwork and site research in tourism is where knowledge meets power and it is because of this that the powerful presents methodological and ethical challenge in order to maintain power. In tourism, research encompasses the various dimensions of power at the micro-scale in regard to accessibility to elite respondents in the field (Hall 2011, p. 41). This is also notable in those who grant permission to particular fieldwork sites, research topics and locations. At macro-scale level fieldwork and tourism is influenced by the development of academic capitalism. These factors influence tourism fieldwork and site research activities significantly. Therefore, it is provided that in conducting tourism fieldwork and site requires the understanding of networks and structures of power and their associated relationship means (Hall 2011). This should be addressed as an ethical issue to avert conflict during the process. Using data to design presentations Reports that require individuals to make a presentation are usually data-rich that are notably exhaustive and informative. Another characteristic of such data-rich reports is not engaging thus requiring a well design presentation that engages and appeals the audience. Ideal presentation design for a data-rich report should communicate facts and information effectively (Anderson 2013). The presentation should have a perfect mix of data and narrative as provided by Nancy Duarte. In the case where data is to communicate information from a report, it is important to send in advance the written report to the audience. The presentation will only be limited to the key takeaways in the report. The presentation should not be long and that findings ought not to be repeated. Individuals within the audience who are interested in the in-depth capture of data can easily read from the report given to them prior to the presentation. Presentation involving financial data can be presented by adopting analytical presentation using the facts underlying the data. This type of presentation should be complimented with a narrative appeal. Visual presentation is vital since it helps the audience to find overview and insight meaning of the data in question (Anderson 2013). The presenter does not need to concentrate on explaining only the visual data but focus on the value and meaning underlying the data as well as how such data can be useful in real life. The design of presenting data should be well-structured to communicate the presenter’s idea in a compelling manner. The structure of the presentation should include time for question and answer, therefore the presenter has to revise the data to be presented, anticipate questions and research on the concise answers. Finally, the presentation should be designed to have transformative and high impact on the audience. Key Important Lessons from Tourism, Policy and Planning As a professional practitioner in the field of tourism the lessons learned underlying this is the understanding of a wider scope of what tourism entails not only the common pleasure travel. Focus should not be put only on the travelers but also hotels, food services, tourism as a business and food services. All of these aspects should have a comprehensive planning and effectively integrated and coordinated. Tourism planning has to focus on the long-term betterment of all the activities and overall stakeholders’ goals and objectives (Hall 2011). Tourism policy and planning are essential not only to individual success but it creates a greater team action. Effective planning helps professionals to anticipate and predict a better future for the tourism industry. Tourism policy and planning is valuable to the state in regard to tourism development. It gives a guideline for the suitable action underlying specific project and development plans. Policies and plans should be fully integrated with the action plan on a regular basis and it should be monitored constantly (Gunn 2002). Economic development should not be the key focus of tourism policy and planning, other areas of focus should not be ignored such as protecting tourism resource assets, enhancing customer satisfaction and the integration of the socio-economic lives of the communities. Tourism policies and plans should be comprehensive and it should incorporate all the sectors of tourism (Liu 2003). In general it should aim to achieve tourism development objectives. Policies and plans for tourism should be dynamic thus require professionals and decision makers to continuously influence the whole process. Formulation of policies and plans requires a well coordinated professional leadership. Finally in the context of tourism site planning for tourism it is important to put emphasis on integration. References Anderson, C 2013, How to Give a Killer Presentation. [Online] Available from: [Accessed 5 May 2015]. Liu, Z 2003, ‘Sustainable Tourism Development: A Critique’, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, vol. 11, no. 6, pp. 459-475. Dredge, D. & Jenkins, J 2007a, Tourism policy and planning. John Wiley & Sons, Brisbane. Gunn, CA 2002, Tourism Planning: Basics, Concepts, Cases. Routledge, London Hall, CM. (ed.) 2011, Fieldwork in Tourism: Methods, Issues and Reflections. 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