Tourism Planning and Policy Making

The report highlights the significance of tourism planning and policy making in developing countries. It emphasizes the need for sustainable development, competitiveness, and effective management of tourism resources. The contemporary approach to tourism planning involves continuous, flexible, comprehensive, integrative, participatory, and system planning models. The document also references various studies and journals that focus on tourism planning and policy making.

Policy and planning in
the tourism industry

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
Investigating the roles and responsibilities of following organisations......................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
Defining and explaining key concepts and issues concerning tourism planning, tourism policy
and tourism management............................................................................................................3
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
Critically evaluating the tourism planning processes and approaches........................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Tourism is a term that is being defined as travel for pleasure or business. It can be
domestic and also international (Cevat, Dallen and Timothy, 2001). International tourism has
incoming as well as outgoing implications on a balance of payments of a particular country.
In the following report, roles and responsibilities of various organisations including
UNWTO, WTTC and Visit Britain has been discussed. Further, tourism policy, its planning and
also the process has been discussed In detail. Tourism management approaches are also
determined in this assessment. In addition to this, the following assignment also highlights on
evaluation of tourism planning process and also its approaches that has been discussed in the
journal article.
TASK 1
Investigating the roles and responsibilities of following organisations
United nations World trade organisations (UNWTO)
United nations world trade organisation is that agency that is basically responsible for
tourism that is sustainable and universally accessible (Dredge and Jamal, 2015). It is one of the
leading organisation in tourism field in which promotion of tourism is being done as a driver in
terms of economic growth. This agency also leads in generating knowledge in terms of market
and also leads in fostering education and training. Thus, roles and responsibilities of UNWTO
has been discussed as per below context-
It plays decisive as well as central role in order to promote the development of tourism
that may be sustainable and also universally accessible. This can be possible for them by paying
particular attention to the interest of developing countries. Further roles of UNWTO are as-
 Main-streaming tourism in global agenda- this act as the priority role for UNWTO. This
means they have to advocate the tourism value in order to increase the growth and
development of economic. Further, its inclusion in termed as the priority in both national
and international policies and also needs to create a level that plays as a field for sector
for developing and also for prospering.
 Promoting sustainable tourism development- this is also termed as main role. This means
that they support tourism policies and practices as being sustainable that makes complete
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use of environmental resources, respecting socio cultural authenticity of grown-up
communities and also helps in providing benefits in terms of socio economic for all.
 Building partnership- In order to engage with private sector as well as with regional and
local tourism organisations. Their responsibility is to build sustainable, responsible and
competitive sector of tourism.
 Advancing tourism contribution to reduction of poverty and development- to maximise
the tourism contribution towards reducing the percentage of poverty and also to achieve
SDGs by making them act as a tool in order to develop and promote inclusion of tourism
in development agenda.
World Travel and Tourism Council
World Trade and Tourism Council is also known as WTTC is that body which leads in
order to represent Travel and Tourism private sector worldwide (Eide, Fuglsang and Sundbo,
2017). They basically work to increase awareness in terms of Travel and Tourism as one of the
largest economic sector in the whole world. They also support 313 million jobs globally and
generates 10.4% GDP of world. This is made with members that are of global business
community and those who works with governments so that they can raise awareness in the world
regarding this sector of travel and tourism. Thus, the roles and responsibilities of World Travel
and Tourism Council has been discussed as per below context-
 Security and travel Facilitation- Systems that are strained are going under huge pressures.
Thus, political and geopolitical instability are increasing and therefore demands for more
stringent security and processes. Hence, World Trade and Tourism council has to work in
these areas and this has become the important responsibility. Thus, for this, they have to
improve facilitation of visa that will later leads in increasing the growth of GDP and also
in job creation. In addition to this, they must also try to use the right technologies that
will help in having seamless and secure travel that will not oppose any type of goals.
 Crisis preparedness- WTTC has to work in order to ensure that public and private sector
in organisation of travel and tourism as they can play their part in situations related to
crisis. Thus, to manage crisis, preparedness and also recovery of it has been identified as
key strategic priorities by the members of WTTC. Therefore, they work with stakeholders
in order to minimise the impact in terms of crises if they occur on sector of travel and
tourism.
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 Sustainable growth- they have to ensure that the growth is in sustainable manner and that
they contribute to the communities and also top ecosystems in positive manner. This may
depend and also protects natural and cultural heritage core towards success. Thus, this
becomes one of the top most priorities of world travel and tourism council and also
members that are involved with them.
Visit Britain
It is the name that has been basically used by the authority of British Tourist. The main
aim of this agency is to promote accessible tourism (Fang, Ye and Law, 2016). Thus, roles and
responsibilities of Visit Britain has been discussed as per below context-
The main role of this agency is to build tourism value to nations and as well as to regions
with help of developing products, raising aspiration in order to travel and also to convert that
aspiration for booking and also for partnering with a range of mercantile set ups. They also focus
on development and delivery of 40 million Euro discover England Fund. In addition to this, they
also focus on increasing value and also volume of exports in tourism sector. This also leads in
developing visitors economy of England and Britain with help of promotion of Britain in the
whole world and also by boosting spending of visitors. It also plays unique and creative role in
order to tourism product of England's. This is done by raising profile of Britain in whole world
and by increasing volume and value of exports that is related in terms of tourism. This helps
them in developing the economy of England and Britain with help of visitors.
TASK 2
Defining and explaining key concepts and issues concerning tourism planning, tourism policy
and tourism management.
Defining and discussing meaning of tourism policy and importance of it to tourism.
Tourism policy is termed as set of regulations, guidelines directives and also set of
various rules (Horner and Swarbrooke, 2016). It is also been defined as development and
promotion of objectives and also strategies that helps in providing framework in which there is
direct affect of decisions regarding collective and individuals to the development of long term
tourism and also the daily activities within a destination.
Importance of tourism policy to tourism
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The role of tourism policy in tourism plays very important role. This also involves
political philosophies along with policies.
The one of priority role and importance of this is to concern in drafting of tourism
policies that is sustainable and also to ensure adequate involvement of local community in
tourism activity. It also includes to guarantee socio economic increased benefits can be
generated. Thus, it relates to increase the employment and also opportunities that is possible by
creating various opportunities.
Various regulations are necessary for protection and also for preservation of tourist
facilities and also natural, historical and cultural resources of a country. There are may forms of
these regulations that includes-
 Laws in terms of customer protection that is being required by travel agencies in order to
place their customers, advance booking deposits in a account that is related to trust. This
will also help them in ensuring that their money will be used in order to secure
reservations that has been done by them.
 Fire safety laws that helps in mandating minim,um number of exit and emergency lights
on each floor in case of any fire takes place.
 Law and regulations related to health and food safety that requires the establishments of
caters in order to maintain minimum standards of safety and sanitation.
 Air regulations that is been dependent upon bilateral agreement between the countries
that helps in governing all aspects related to air transportation between them.
Thus, regulatory actions may arise from concern and it has been determined that certain
protective regulations that restrict activities or else access towards environmental areas that are
vulnerable.
Tourism planning and process
Tourism planning is a term referred to as the dynamic process in order to determine
goals, select alternative course of action in systematic way so that goals are achieved,
implementation of chosen alternatives (Mason, 2015). It also includes evaluation of the choice in
order to determine its successfulness. Thus, process of tourism planning has been discussed as
per below context-
PROCESS
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The process in terms of planning is very essential for growth and also for development of
tourism industry (Nezakati and et.al., 2015). Thus, planning must be done as per needs and wants
of people. Therefore, the process of planning has been discussed as per below-
 Definition of system- Planning is very essential process. This process must have such
ability that they can give different kind of conditions in results and also in growth of a
company. Thus, it also becomes essential to identify that they work in such way that may
help the system to be the perfect. Thus, the definition becomes very much important for
them who are actually related to tourism industry.
 Objective formulation- Objectives must have ability of the particular organisation in
order to create awareness in peoples mind that are involved in a particular process. They
must also look after the requirement of people that are involved and do the planning
process and also its development accordingly to that requirements.
 Information search- the process of planning in tourism industry is that kind of process in
which a company work in terms of growth and development of industry. Therefore,
relevant information must be founded that is related to growth and development of
industry. This planning helps in developing ideas that may be required by them in future
for improvements.
 Investigation of data- the data that is being collected from different resources must be
investigated in proper manner. This data leads them in order to give huge volume of
satisfaction to people.
 First level planning- Planning process must be start up in step to step process. First level
planning is that planning which helps in generating maximum output for country's
growth. This planning must have ability in order to create difference in development and
also in growth of particular industry for growth in future and also for various
requirements.
 Authorization of Plan- proper permission from authority becomes essential in process of
planning. Thus, authorisation itself means to take permission from authorities or
superiors. In addition to this, if any type of destination is being selected than they require
taking permissions from various departments that are available in process of planning.
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 Selection of the best one- in this stage, the best plan among various plans is being
selected. The selection must be done according to requirements, needs and desires of
people that are involved. This stage plays essential role in this process of planning.
 Activation of Plan- this is final step that is involved in planning process of tourism
industry. In this stage it is very important that starting of plans is done in effective and
efficient manner.
Three components considered to be as main approaches to tourism management.
Tourism management is termed as oversight of various activities that are related to
industries of tourism and also to hospitality (Nunkoo, 2015). It has also been defined as
multidisciplinary field that leads in preparing people with interest, experience and also in terms
of training for positions of management in food, accommodations and also of tourism industry. It
is also referred to as management that involves efforts of marketing in order to attract tourists for
travelling to particular destinations. Thus, main approaches to tourism management has been
discussed as per below context-
1. Environmental factors- there are two main environmental factors that have lead in terms
of increasing growth of tourism that has been described as follows-
 Good climate- Good climate is the basic and crucial features that helps in attracting
visitors towards tourist place. Thus, climate with warmth and ample of sunshine leads in
pulling large number of tourists that are mainly coming from temperate or colder regions.
 Beautiful scenery- beautiful sceneries is also the important component that helps in
attracting huge volume of customers towards that particular place. Example of beautiful
and attractive sceneries includes sunset and sunrise points, long sea beaches, fresh lakes
with water, waterfalls, etc. these helps in pulling various visitors from different countries.
2. Socio-economic factors- this socio-economic factors that mainly influence tourism
developments includes following-
 Accessibility- Accessibility is the most critical and important one among all factors. The
visitors must have accessibility of all tourism centres with various modes of
transportation (Veal, 2017). These modes include roads, railways, air and water.
 Accommodation- Accommodation facility that has been provided by a particular sector
must be in such way that may suit lifestyles of tourists, their standard of living, capacity
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in order to spend money and also service nature that has been expected by them. People
mainly attract towards facilities with good lodging and availabilities of foods.
 Amenities- tourism growth at a particular place is also influenced by crucial factors like
maintenance of site in well manner for activities that are related to tourism. These
activities include skiing, roping, paragliding, rowing, fishing, surfing, safari adventure,
etc.
 Ancillary services- if tour destination is equipped by ancillary services like banking and
finance or internet or telecom connectivity (Riley, 2014). Then such places helps in
retaining huge volume of tourists for longer period. This all leads in order to boost the
economic growth of a particular country.
3. Religious factors- this factors also plays significant role in tourism management. people
make pilgrims to the places having religious importance in order to seek inner peace.
This places helps in contributing towards booming tourism at holy places. This also leads
towards growth and development of economy.
Thus, these three components is also been used as basic approaches in terms of tourism
management.
TASK 3
Critically evaluating the tourism planning processes and approaches.
There are many countries that are available in order to prepare plans particularly at
central level so that they can guide development in tourism sector (Raj and Griffin, eds., 2015).
Thus, it has been analysed by them that tourism sector plays important role in terms of earning
foreign currency or also employment level. There has also been appeared some consequences in
terms of planning approaches that has been adopted in tourism development. Thus, by taking
into account specific conditions of destination along with collaboration and also cooperation of
western government there arises need for political stability, supportive institutions has to be
established and also decentralisation in order to develop and implement the approach that us
appropriate in terms of contemporary tourism development and planning.
Further, tourism development is termed as a product of central planning. This approach
has its limitations. That is related particularly to considerations of involvement of community in
development process. Thus, there are many obstacles for implementation of modern approaches
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in tourism planning. In order to identify this defects, it becomes essential to illustrate the
shortcoming priorly. The shortcomings related to tourism planning and development is discussed
below that includes-
 Tourism development planning is rigid and inflexible.
 Plans are not comprehensive enough and there is also lack of preparation in coordinated
manner.
 There is lack community based approach.
 Tourism development planning is dominantly supply oriented.
 Tourism development planning is extremely motivated by market.
 There arises difficulties in terms of implementation of plans.
 Over-centralisation of activities related to tourism planning and improper practices
related to public administration.
 Myopic approach in order to establish goals of planning related to tourism development.
The countries that are developing are eager in order to plan but fails to govern. They accept
apparatus, symbols and rhetoric of planning but they lack in terms of discipline and forethought
in order to carry it out. In addition to this, there is also lack of communitity approach in terms of
political will to implement participatory tourism development approach. This is because of
implications of it for distribution of power and also of resources.
There arises some sought of confusion over the goals of tourism planning and policy
making in specific way within industry and customers of target group. Further, old approaches
related to planning has been replaced to new approaches which is also known as contemporary
approach. This approach involves continuous, flexible, comprehensive, integrative, participatory
and also system planning models. These components mainly overlap each other rather than being
necessarily exclusive. Therefore, there arises need for developing appropriate method in terms of
planning by using components with right mix and proportions of contemporary approach by
taking into account their related circumstances.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been concluded that tourism is been becoming very much
dependent and also sensitive more than ever in development of high quality environment that is
sustainable. Planning is important to sustain and also to remain more competitiveness in market.
Further, it has also been analysed that tourism policies plays vital and critical role in terms of
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tourism industry and also in terms of development and growth of country's economic. In addition
to this, this report also highlights on various components that are considered as main approaches
which can be further adopted by tourism industry in order to achieve high profitability and long
term success.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Cevat Tosun, Dallen J and Timothy, 2001. "Shortcomings in planning approaches to tourism
development in developing countries: the case of Turkey", International Journal of
Contemporary Hospitality Management. Vol. 13 Issue: 7, pp.352-359.
Dredge, D. and Jamal, T., 2015. Progress in tourism planning and policy: A post-structural
perspective on knowledge production. Tourism Management. 51. pp.285-297.
Eide, D., Fuglsang, L. and Sundbo, J., 2017. Management challenges with the maintenance of
tourism experience concept innovations: Toward a new research agenda. Tourism
Management. 63. pp.452-463.
Fang, B., Ye, Q. and Law, R., 2016. Effect of sharing economy on tourism industry
employment. Annals of Tourism Research. 57(3). pp.264-267.
Horner, S. and Swarbrooke, J., 2016. Consumer behaviour in tourism. Routledge.
Mason, P., 2015. Tourism impacts, planning and management. Routledge.
Nezakati, H. and et.al., 2015. Review of social media potential on knowledge sharing and
collaboration in tourism industry. Procedia-social and behavioral sciences. 172. pp.120-
125.
Nunkoo, R., 2015. Tourism development and trust in local government. Tourism Management.
46. pp.623-634.
Raj, R. and Griffin, K.A. eds., 2015. Religious tourism and pilgrimage management: An
international perspective. Cabi.
Riley, M., 2014. Human resource management in the hospitality and tourism industry.
Routledge.
Veal, A.J., 2017. Research methods for leisure and tourism. Pearson UK.
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