Tourism Planning Environment: Challenges and Initiatives for Sustainable Development

This article discusses the challenges faced by the European tourism industry due to technological gaps and the initiatives taken for sustainable development. It also explores rural tourism and its resources. The article provides a critique of the content and compares and contrasts the two discussion papers.

Running head: TOURISM PLANNING ENVIRONMENT
Tourism planning environment
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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Table of contents
Analysis of discussion paper 1...................................................................................................2
Analysis of discussion paper 2...................................................................................................2
Structure Critique.......................................................................................................................3
Discussion 1...............................................................................................................................3
Discussion 2...............................................................................................................................4
Critique the content....................................................................................................................4
Content 1....................................................................................................................................4
Content 2....................................................................................................................................5
Compare and contrast:................................................................................................................5
Reflection...................................................................................................................................6
Reference list and bibliography.................................................................................................8

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Analysis of discussion paper 1
In the discussion paper it has been identified that in current scenario, the tourism
industry is dealing with several challenges. The European commission have tied of
introducing effective initiatives regarding the development of tourism industry. For the
sustainable development and providing standard service in the recent tourism framework
different promotional activities have been introduced. As stated by Iunius, Cismaru and Foris
(2015), the European tourism commission has decided to develop the tourism framework by
highlighting the ICT programs. In this process the innovation and creativity can be introduced
in the tourism industry.
In this paper two reliable proposals have been formulated. One is the creation of the
support system of decision so that the sustainable management practices for European
destinations can be done. The second proposal is related to the trip-planning development so
that the quality-sensitive travellers can easily rely on the European tourism quality. In this
discussion it has been identified that “tourist destination” is being considered as a
complicated concept, where the “competitiveness of tourist destinations” is one of the major
issue. In order to deal with the situation and for gaining the competitive advantage the service
quality improvement is required by keeping in mind about the tourists’ perception (Kadi and
Santoso, 2017). It has been also highlighted in this paper that the external environment of
European tourism industry has higher level of contribution in its business revenue
development. Due to the generation gap among the employees, the old employees are not
being able to accept quickly the information and communication practices. In this case the
technological gap has increased.

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Analysis of discussion paper 2
In this paper the rural tourism has been highlighted. In this discussion Eurobodalla has
been highlighted, which is nature based destination. Eurobodalla holds the broad range of
rural tourism resources (Esc.nsw.gov.au, 2018). In most of the cases where land is conserved
as the State Forest or National Park. These lands are being used for providing the destinations
to the visitors. In some cases accommodation options also being provided. However, (Murray
and Kline, 2015) stated that land issue regarding cases the natural landscape values are being
added those play an important role in the case of helping Eurobodalla tourism to get strength
for developing the Shire’s agricultural landscapes. Various opportunities such as the
appropriate tourism management practices, Shire’s heritage, waterways and diversified rural
lands are being considered as the biggest strength for developing the tourism sector, however
the biggest challenge for Eurobodalla tourism initiatives is for coexisting with agricultural
practices without any type of interference. In this discussion different measurable initiatives
have been taken by the authority. It has been identified in the discussion paper that lack of
monitoring and cost with the up gradation of accommodation, seasonal cost and poor network
connectivity have creased several issues for developing the tourism industry in rural areas.
Structure Critique
Discussion 1
Issue: In the 1st discussion paper, it has been identified that the European tourism
Commission is dealing with the competitive issues due to increasing technological gap
among the employees.
Analysing of the issue: In this study, it has been identified that increasing number of
competitors in the tourism industry after the introduction of information and communication
in the tourism industry, it has become very difficult to survive in the competitive industry.

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Another way, it has been identified that the as the availability of competitors have brought the
challenges for the European tourism industry, therefore, by adopting the ICT tourism
framework, the tourism industry will be able to gain the long term competitive achievements
(Komppula, 2014).
Possible Policy Instruments: In order to deal with the situation the European Tourism
commission has taken various initiatives. In order to deal with such issues in the year 2010,
the European Commission has decided to include several actions those intention is to support
the European tourist destinations in the case of achieving the competitive advantage by
introducing the sustainable development and information and communication initiatives.
KNOWNET or FAST LANE and TOURISM link Project are being considered as the
important initiatives taken by the European Tourism Government for gaining the competitive
advantage through digital competitive marketplace (Iunius, Cismaru and Foris, 2015).
Discussion 2
Issue: In the second discussion paper it has been identified that the product gaps, promotional
issues and land issue have become the major problems for the tourism industry.
Analysing of the issue: In the study it has been identified that the due to the availability of
aboriginals in this area the issue regarding maintaining the tourism as well as the agriculture
without creating an interruption has become the major concern. On the other hand, it has been
identified that negative promotions regarding the rural area tourism are the major issue
(Roberts, Hall and Morag, 2017).
Possible Policy Instruments: It has been identified in this study that there are various
policies and contracts, where the strong support from the government has been mentioned,
will be beneficial for the rural tourism sector. In the words of Foris, Popescu and Foris
(2018), by protecting the residential community value and amenity and improving

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communication with the potential drivers the development can be done. For the urban
expansion the coastal vista can be applied. Along with the tourist routes the uses of SP3
zoning and uses of Split zoning can be beneficial.
Critique the content
Content 1
In the discussion 1 it has been identified that due to the influence of information and
communication in the current industry, the technological gap has created the development
related issues. In such cases the European commission has decided to adopt different policies
and technological innovations in the case of dealing with the situation (Bradić-Martinović
and Miletić, 2017). As the commission has decided to reduce technological gap by
introducing the KNOWNET and TOURISM link Project, therefore, introduction of this
projects the stakeholders of this sectors will be able to access all the information related to the
European tourism destination (Inversini, 2018). It can be said that these projects are the
combination and innovation and standard. Therefore, this can be said that these initiatives
help to provide standard service to the stakeholders.
Content 2
In the second discussion, it has been identified that in order to deal with the product
gap, land issue and negative promotions, the authority needs to focus on addressing the
demand and supply chain issues. The network and connectivity will also be improved. On the
other hand, Loureiro (2018) opined that different tourism development programs have also
been highlighted in this study. By maintaining the balance between the agriculture and
tourism development planning, urban extension has been highlighted, in this process the local
community will come closer to the external world. Kadi, D. and Santoso (2015), by involving
local community in this tourism development practices the economic situation of the area can

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also be developed. With the interaction of the local community, the connectivity and supply
chain issue can be solved. With such initiatives both the local people and tourists will be
benefited.
Compare and contrast:
In the comparison of these two papers, it can be said that in the first discussion, the
information and technology has been highlighted as in negative way that influences the
growth of tourism industry. In the words of Cismaru and Ispas (2015), the rapid
technological development sometimes creates big trouble for the people who are not
habituated with the digital environment. Similarly in the case of this dissertation the
development of technology has become one of the major element in customer satisfaction in
the tourism industry. By supporting this Murray and Kline (2015) stated that it is also true
that for the old generation technology has created the major trouble. Another way in the
second discussion, it has discussed about the importance of modern technology for bringing
the promotional improvement. In the second discussion, the issue regarding land use, urban
extension and policy development.
The major similarities of these two dissertations that both the paper have specified
particular areas. In both the cases tourism development regarding initiatives have been
highlighted. In both the papers satisfaction of the visitors has been discussed and
development of effective tourism sector for economic growth has been mentioned.
Reflection
In the first discussion, I have identified that improper use of tourism policies have
been mentioned. I have identified that in the European tourism industry, technology has
become major concern, which has also influenced the internal organizational relationship too.
In the case of improving the situation different technological initiatives have been mentioned

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so that the quality of service can be development. However, I believe, training and
development is also very important in such cases so that the generation gap can be reduced
among the employees. I also believe, if the digital environment can be used as strength
through different promotional activities, it can help in terms of increasing the availability of
the customers.
On the other hand, from the second discussion I have identified that for economic
development in the rural areas the tourism industry is needed to be developed. In this case I
believe promotional development is required so that the people will get to know about the
destination properly. Tourist safety should be the major concern for the authority. The issue,
which has been aroused due to the agricultural land use, in this case if the legal policies will
be developed, it can be beneficial for maintaining both the tourism and agriculture.

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Reference list and bibliography
Bradić-Martinović, A. and Miletić, B., 2017. ICT readiness as a factor of competitiveness of
Serbian tourism. Ecologica: nauka, privreda, iskustva, 1, pp.448-469.
Cismaru, L. and Ispas, A., 2015. Improving the profile of the European tourist destinations
through the European tourism indicators system. Bulletin of the Transilvania University of
Brasov. Economic Sciences. Series V, 8(1), p.87.
Cismaru, L., 2015. European tools for managing and monitoring the sustainable development
of tourist destinations. Review of General Management, 21(1), pp.101-113.
Esc.nsw.gov.au 2018. Available from http://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/inside-council/project-and-
exhibitions/rural-lands-strategy/discussion-papers/Discussion-Paper-8-Rural-Tourism.pdf
Foris, D., Popescu, M. and Foris, T., 2018. A Comprehensive Review of the Quality
Approach in Tourism. In Mobilities, Tourism and Travel Behavior-Contexts and Boundaries.
InTech.
Inversini, A., 2018. GunjanSaxenaMarketing Rural Tourism Experience and
Enterprise2016Edward Elgar PublishingCheltenham178 (Pbk),£ 63.00 ISBN:
9781784710873.
Iunius, R.F., Cismaru, L. and Foris, D., 2015. Raising competitiveness for tourist destinations
through information technologies within the newest tourism action framework proposed by
the European commission. Sustainability, 7(9), pp.12891-12909.
Kadi, D. and Santoso, A.J., 2017, October. Mobile application development with augmented
reality for promoting tourism objects in Southwest Sumba. In Science in Information
Technology (ICSITech), 2017 3rd International Conference on(pp. 200-205). IEEE.

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Komppula, R., 2014. The role of individual entrepreneurs in the development of
competitiveness for a rural tourism destination–A case study. Tourism Management, 40,
pp.361-371.
Loureiro, S.M.C., 2014. The role of the rural tourism experience economy in place
attachment and behavioral intentions. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 40,
pp.1-9.
Murray, A. and Kline, C., 2015. Rural tourism and the craft beer experience: Factors
influencing brand loyalty in rural North Carolina, USA. Journal of Sustainable
Tourism, 23(8-9), pp.1198-1216.
Roberts, L., Hall, D. and Morag, M., 2017. New directions in rural tourism. Routledge.
Sidali, K.L., Kastenholz, E. and Bianchi, R., 2015. Food tourism, niche markets and products
in rural tourism: Combining the intimacy model and the experience economy as a rural
development strategy. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 23(8-9), pp.1179-1197.