The impacts of a lack of planning on a destination have been documented in the literature. They include the following: 1
Physical impacts
- damage or permanent alteration of the physical environment
- damage or permanent alteration of historical/cultural landmarks and resources
- overcrowding and congestion
- pollution
- traffic problems
Human impacts
- less accessibility to services and tourist attractions for local residents that result in local resentment
- dislike of tourists on the part of local residents
- loss of cultural identity
- lack of education of tourism employees in skills and hospitality
- lack of awareness of the benefits of tourism to the destination area
Organizational impacts
- fragmented approach to the marketing and development of tourism
- lack of cooperation among individual operators
- inadequate representation of tourism's interests
- lack of support from local public authorities
- failure to act upon important issues, problems, and opportunities of common interest to the community
Other impacts
- inadequate signs
- lack of sufficient attractions and events
- high seasonality and short lengths of stay
- poor or deteriorating quality of facilities and services
- poor or inadequate travel information services
Consequences of unplanned growth
Allocentrics. Stanley Plog offered a widely used model of what can happen to a destination without adequate plans for the future. The model is shown in Figure 7.1. Plog believes that destination areas have a life cycle as they go through a process of appealing to different segments of the market.
As a new destination is discovered it appeals to what Plog calls the allocentrics. Allocentrics are self-confident, frequent travelers who prefer to fly. They also prefer destinations that are uncrowded and where they can seek out experiences that are novel. They are very interested in meeting people and exploring new cultures. This is similar to innovators, people who are the first to buy a new product just because it is new. Africa would be an example of a destination appealing to the allocentric.
As word of the destination gets out, more tourists are attracted. However, these early adopters are not as pioneering as the allocentrics. Called the near-allocentrics, they remain interested in the culture but demand more services. The Orient might be in this category.
Midcentrics. As more and more people visit the area, the allocentrics move on to discover new destinations. Those who do come exhibit midcentric characteristics. More and more of the familiar is desired. At the same time, however, there are more midcentrics in the population than near-allocentrics or allocentrics. Most of Europe falls into this category.
At this point the destination has gone through several stages of what in marketing is called the "product life cycle curve". It has been introduced into the marketplace, has established a place for itself, and has gone through a period of growth. Plog warns that destination areas carry the seeds of their own destruction.
Psychocentrics. Left unchecked, destination areas can begin to appeal to psychocentrics. Psychocentrics are unsure of themselves and have relatively low socioeconomic status. They do not travel much, preferring to go by car when they do and seek the familiar in the destinations they choose. They prefer tours and types of restaurants that they are accustomed to at home. Miami Beach in the United States is an example of a destination appealing to this group. As more development occurs the destination begins to resemble the area the tourist lives in. At the same time the size of the market declines. The rate and extent of development has turned off even the midcentrics. The destination is into the maturity stage of the product life cycle. Businesses and destinations can tell when this is occurring. In the growth stage of the life cycle, sales rise at an increasing rate each year, 5 per cent one year, 7 per cent the next, 8 per cent the next, etc. In the maturity stage of the life cycle, sales are increasing but at a decreasing rate, 5 per cent one year, 4 per cent the next, 2 per cent the next, etc.
Without drastic action, the destination moves into decline. Overdeveloped, it appeals to the relatively small number of pure psychocentrics. Coney Island in the US might be in this category. This is an example of a destination that has gone through all of the stages. Once appealing to sophisticated visitors, its former glory days are gone.
Such changes are probably inevitable if development is allowed to occur without any thought as to the future. However, life cycles can be extended if the changes are anticipated and steps taken to adapt to the changes. One destination that has gone through many of these stages is Atlantic City, also in the US. Once a proud resort town, it had become run down. The city is hoping that the legalization of gambling there will help reverse the process that began many years ago. One of the functions of planning is to provide the framework that will allow the destination to cope with change.
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