Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In the very competitive environment of tourism destinations, Hall (2008b)
suggests there is a range of regional competitiveness strategies that can be
implemented from a low road to a high road. Those strategies that are on the
low road are linked to packaging the place, product and reimaging strategies
as well as investing in infrastructure such as meeting and convention facili-
ties, sports stadiums or entertainment and shopping. High road strategies
focus on entrepreneurship and innovation by developing learning regions,
using concepts such as agglomeration economics and networking. The
World Economic Forum publishes a Travel and Tourism Competitive Report
measuring the factors and policies that make it attractive for developing the
travel and tourism industry in different countries. The three main categories
in the index are (a) the regulatory framework, (b) the business environment
and infrastructure and (c) the human, cultural and natural resources. In
2013, Switzerland was ranked first (World Economic Forum, 2013).
Hall (1994c) cautions, however, that the state is not simply a reflection of
the interests of society, and at times the state will impose its value preferences
even if they are in contrast with other members of society. This warning is
particularly relevant in terms of regional development, as governments in
some countries have in the past evicted local residents in the drive to pursue
national or regional tourism development plans. In Tanzania, for example, the
Massai have been displaced from cattle grazing areas to make way for safari
tourism (Renton, 2009). It is, therefore, important to understand the political
process which brought the government to power as well as how the govern-
ment operates and interacts with interest groups inside and outside the coun-
try. In examining the nature of the political economy of tourism, Dieke
(2000) states that the traditional role of government has been changing
towards free-market liberalism, a trend which is supported by several inter-
national donor agencies. International loans for tourism development projects
have often been strongly linked to the specifications of the neoliberal agenda
of the lending agency and receiving governments are required to follow these
conditions in order to obtain the loan (see Chapter 2).
Government agencies use geographic scales (national, regional and local)
in the application of tourism planning. Theoretically, as in a hierarchy,
'national policies set a broad agenda for development that directly shapes
regional-level policies whilst they in turn form a framework for locally
implemented plans. As the scale of intervention diminishes, so the level of
detail in planning proposals increases' (Williams, 1998: 133). In commenting
on the role of national plans, Williams (1998: 135) indicates that the national
plans designate tourism development regions. Tourism development regions
are identified to 'help structure programmes for the redistribution of wealth
and to narrow inter-regional disparities; to create employment in areas where
unemployment is an issue, or to channel tourism development into zones
that possesses appropriate attractions and infrastructure and are therefore
considered for tourism'. In the UK, both national and regional tourism
Search WWH ::
Custom Search