Destinations and Communities

Introduction

Tourism is regarded as one of the top five employers world-wide and plays a significant role in the economic and social development of many destinations and communities around the world. Destinations seeking to find a balance between their economic, social and environmental aspirations are engaged in ‘destination management’. The internationally recognised VICE model recognises that tourism in a destination is the interaction between:

 

• Visitors;
• the Industry that serves them;
• the Community that hosts them; and their collective impact on, and response to
• the Environment where it all takes place.

 

 

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Tourism et al, 2006 ‘Tourism Planning Toolkit for Local Government’, Ministry of Tourism, New Zealand

The Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC) has invested over $260 million in research during the last 12 years to understand the factors that influence ‘success’ and the most effective way to achieve sustainable tourism development through destination management. Destination managers and tourism planners have recognised the need for a more holistic approach to destination planning, development and marketing. Over the last decade tourism stakeholders at the destination level have gradually shifted focus from the traditional marketing and promotional functions to the more coordinated strategic approach of destination management. The term ‘destination management’ and other tourism-specific terminology are often defined differently. 

 

How to use Sustainable Tourism Online

Sustainable Tourism Online provides information and resources to assist the sector in taking a destination management approach to tourism. Drawing on the extensive research of the STCRC and other international partners, this section on Sustainable Destinations and Communities is presented in three phases or modules of destination management, accompanied by practical tools and case studies. The three phases are:

 

• Destination Planning;
• Destination Implementation; and
• Destination Performance.

Within each section you will find a summary of the research to date, specific research and resources on subject areas relating to destination management and links to case studies, reports and tools. These resources are provided to assist:

 

• Destination Management Organisations;
• Local Government and State Government departments responsible for tourism infrastructure and amenity;
• Tourism Professional Support providers;
• Tourism Businesses;
• Academics, Researchers and Students; and
• Media.

Please use to links and search functions to navigate through the Sustainable Destinations and Communities content and resources. You can also download a ‘Site-Map’ to view the structure of the topics and content in the Sustainable Destinations and Communities section, as well as a downloadable PDF version of the entire ‘Sustainable Tourism - Destinations and Communities’.

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