Tourism Policy: Structure, Content, and Process - Tourism: Principles, Practices, Philosophies - page 335

TOURISM POLICY: STRUCTURE,
CONTENT, AND PROCESS

In discussing tourism policy, it is helpful to clearly distinguish among the overall structure of a policy and
the speci c policy content found within that structure. In the same vein, readers must distinguish
between: (1) the static concepts of policy structure and content, and (2) the dynamic concept of policy
formulation. Structure and context de ne the

'' what '' of tourism policy; the process of policy formulation

describes the s policy and determining the content of

policy found within that structure. In tourism, the process, or the

'' how '' of de ning the structure of a destination '

'' how, '' provides the following:

An overview of the different stages or steps involved in the policy formulation process

&

A review of the various possible methodologies that might be used within, or across, the stages of
policy formulation

&

The Structure of Tourism Policy

Although no singlemodel can de ne the , Figure 15.5 provides one framework

for tourism policy (i.e., a set of guidelines for successful destination development and operations).

structure of tourismpolicy

Total System and Tourism Macropolicy

Macropolicy, or what some have referred to as megapolicy, involves determination of the premises,
assumptions, and main guidelines to be followed by speci c policies. It is a kind of master policy,
clearly distinct from detailed discrete policies. 7 In this regard, tourism policy is viewed as being directly
based on and derived from the policies that direct the total socioeconomic system of the nation
or region in which the tourism subsystem is located. In fact, it is the general content of these

Tourism Philosophy

Tourism Vision

Tourism Objectives
and Constraints

Supply
Development
Strategies

Demand
Development
Strategies

Macromanagement
Organizational
Structure

Operational/Tactical
Supply Development
Policies/Programs

Operational/Tactical
Demand
Development
Policies/Programs

Figure 15.5 The structure and

composition of tourism policy.

DESTINATION SOCIOECONOMIC MACRO-LEVEL POLICIES