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1. Exploration and involvement stages
a) small number of tourists undertaking individual and irregular travel to visit the destination’s primary attractions
b) locals offer tourist services, advertising the destination, requesting for more public tourist amenities and facilities
2. Development and consolidation stages
a) increase in tourist numbers with destinations having more man-made attractions, advertisements and foreign labour
b) growth in tourist numbers slow and tourists outnumber locals resulting in a tourism dependent economy
3. Stagnation and decline or rejuvenation stages
a) tourist numbers peak as a destination’s carrying capacity is reached, resulting in negative impacts
b) tourist numbers decline as a destination loses its tourist appeal or is rejuvenated with new cultural or man-made attractions
Blackpool, UK experienced a decline and was rejuvenated after the decline in 1990s.
Exploration stage:
The practice of sea bathing to cure diseases was becoming fashionable among the wealthier classes who began to visit Blackpool for that purpose. In the 19 century, rich people were attracted the 7 miles beach in Blackpool.
Involvement stage:
Central Pier was opened in 1868 and workers were given annual holidays in 1870s.
Development Stage:
The Tower was opened in 1894 and Blackpool's South Shore's fairground was advertised as the Pleasure Beach in 1905. In 1846, the railway was built, cutting the costs and time needed to travel. It became cheaper to travel so many working class visitors began to visit Blackpool every weekend.
Consolidation Stage:
During interwar years from 1918 to 1939, Blackpool was recognised as one of Europe's leading coastal resort, helped by a new law giving workers paid leave for holidays.
Stagnation Stage
Tourist regions experience stagnation as they could not attract more visitors as the natural environments in the regions were destroyed over time and lost their appeal to visitors who were originally attracted by the natural beauty. The regions face competition from other similar attractions and unable to attract repeat visitors. For example, the once popular coast destination of Blackpool in England lost its attractiveness due to competition from similar coastal attractions in the Mediterranean. People lost their interest when the initial appeal of the destination has waned so they sought out new destination.
Decline Stage:
Tourist arrivals decline significantly if no steps are taken to revive the destination. Contributions to the economy decline significantly. Local businesses are affected and may close, negatively affecting the economy and livelihoods. Less money available to maintain and improve facilities. Facilities deteriorate further, leading to fewer tourists. Blackpool lost its attractiveness due to competition from other European coastal locations with more competitive pricing. With fewer tourists, many old inns either deteriorated or had to shut down.
Rejuvenate Stage:
Destination becomes more attractive again by having new investments to develop attractions and facilities. Re-branding of the destination leading to an increase in tourist arrivals again. Local authorities engaged the private sector to invest $300 million to build Blackpool Central, a world-class leisure development which aims to attract 600,000 visitors annually. It was re-marketed itself as a Muslim-friendly and disabled-friendly destination.
Blackpool has enjoyed £46m of private sector investment since 2011 in new rides, attractions and facilities at Blackpool Pleasure Beach from the UK's first Nickelodeon Land to the UK's first double launch rollercoaster, ICON and a new £28m conference centre is being built at the Winter Garden.
https://www.blackpooltourismbid.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Business-Plan.pdf
Tourist destination which does not experience decline
Bhutan is currently in the Involvement or early Development stage. Bhutan maintains a strong control over its tourism sector to preserve its culture and environment. It imposes a daily fee on tourists, which includes a $65 sustainable development fee used to fund free education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation. This approach deliberately limits the number of tourists to avoid overtourism and ensures that tourism development aligns with the country's values and sustainability goals.
Despite growing popularity, Bhutan's tourism policies, including the restriction on visitor numbers and the high cost of visiting, mean that it has not yet moved into the later stages of Consolidation or Stagnation. The country is still enhancing its tourism facilities and infrastructure while maintaining a balance with its environmental and cultural preservation efforts. Thus, Bhutan's model is a unique blend of controlled development with a focus on high-value, low-impact tourism.
Watch how the butler model is applied to tourism in Bali
https://youtu.be/lP-3LGyqo4A
"All tourist destinations experience decline."
How far do you agree with the statement? Support your answer with named examples.
Effective management and policies could help to sustain or rejuvenate tourism to prevent decline . Tourist destinations such as Bhutan exemplify how effective strategies can mitigate potential declines and foster sustainable tourism growth. However, though Blackpool in the UK experienced decline, it managed to rejuvenate with re-branding.
The following is a 2009 study carried out by Carlos Rogelio Virgen Aguilar on Puerto Vallarta, a city in Mexico which has gone through the decline stage after stagnation just like Blackpool, UK.
Exploration stage
Puerto Vallarta, a city in Mexico started to attract tourists as it was the location for the 1964 film “The Night of the Iguana”, directed by John Houston.
Development Stage
In the following years Puerto Vallarta experienced a boom from 2,687 hotel units in 1975 to 10,029 in 1992. An international airport was built in 1970 and the tourist infrastructure was improved.
Stagnation Stage
After this stage, where the average annual rate was 15.2%, growth slowed down and even decreased, but showed a slight increase from 2001 to 2005, with condominiums being the predominant choice (non-hotel offering).
Decline Stage
After 2005, no new attractions were created to attract a greater number of tourists, nor did they seek to increase per capita spending. Undoubtedly, the offer of condominiums affected the hotel sector, while the neighboring destination, Nuevo Vallarta, attracts a large part of the region’s tourism.
https://mize.tech/blog/the-6-phases-of-a-tourist-destinations-life-cycle/
An excellent example of a tourist destination experiencing rejuvenation after stagnation, following the Butler Tourist Destination Development Model, is the city of Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona faced stagnation in the mid-20th century due to economic challenges and political unrest. However, following the principles outlined in the Butler model, Barcelona successfully rejuvenated its tourism industry through strategic planning and development initiatives. Here's how Barcelona fits into the Butler model:
Exploration: Barcelona began its journey by exploring its tourism potential. The city identified its cultural heritage, architectural treasures such as the works of Antoni Gaudí, and its Mediterranean location as key assets that could attract visitors.
Involvement: Local authorities, businesses, and communities in Barcelona became involved in tourism development efforts. Collaborative initiatives were launched to enhance infrastructure, preserve cultural sites, and improve the visitor experience.
Development: Barcelona focused on developing its tourism infrastructure to accommodate growing visitor numbers. This included expanding hotel capacity, improving transportation systems such as the metro and bus networks, and revitalizing public spaces.
Stagnation: Despite initial successes, Barcelona experienced a period of stagnation in the 1970s and 1980s due to factors such as over-development, overcrowding, and concerns about sustainability. The city faced backlash from residents and environmentalists over the impact of mass tourism on local communities and the environment.
Rejuvenation: Barcelona implemented rejuvenation strategies to address the challenges of stagnation and ensure the long-term sustainability of its tourism industry. These strategies included:
Barcelona diversified its tourism offerings beyond traditional attractions to include cultural events, culinary experiences, and sports tourism e.g. hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics. The Barcelona Olympic Park which is constructed for the 1992 Summer Olympics, Barcelona Olympic Park is a major tourist attraction that includes iconic facilities such as the Olympic Stadium (Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys), the Palau Sant Jordi arena, and the Olympic swimming pool. These venues host sporting events, concerts, and other cultural activities, attracting visitors from around the world.
Port Vell: Port Vell, meaning "Old Port," underwent a significant revitalization in the 1990s to transform it into a modern waterfront leisure area. The development includes attractions such as the Maremagnum shopping mall, the IMAX Port Vell cinema, the Barcelona Aquarium (Aquàrium de Barcelona), and the Port Cable Car (Transbordador Aeri del Port), offering panoramic views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea.
La Rambla Pedestrian Boulevard: La Rambla is one of Barcelona's most famous streets, known for its vibrant atmosphere, street performers, shops, and cafes. In recent years, the city has invested in enhancing La Rambla's appeal to tourists by pedestrianizing sections of the street, improving lighting and landscaping, and promoting cultural events and festivals along its route.
Overall, Barcelona's journey from stagnation to rejuvenation exemplifies how destinations can navigate the stages of tourism development outlined in the Butler model and implement strategies to achieve long-term success and sustainability in tourism.
From ChatGPT 8 April 2024
Look at how Smith Street in Chinatown is being rejuvenated as a tourism destination.
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