What Are the Different Models of Planning in Tourism?

By Anna Duncan

Planning is an essential aspect of any industry, including tourism. It involves a series of steps that help organizations and businesses to achieve their goals and objectives effectively.

In the tourism industry, there are different models of planning that organizations can adopt, depending on their needs and circumstances. In this article, we will discuss some of the different models of planning in tourism.

Comprehensive Planning Model

The comprehensive planning model is a popular approach in the tourism industry. It involves a comprehensive analysis of various factors that affect the tourism market.

These factors include market trends, economic conditions, political climate, environmental concerns, and cultural issues. The comprehensive planning model aims to develop a long-term strategy that addresses all these factors.

Advantages:

  • Provides a holistic approach to planning
  • Considers all the important factors that affect the tourism market
  • Enables organizations to develop long-term strategies

Disadvantages:

  • Requires significant time and resources to complete the analysis
  • The long-term strategy may not be flexible enough to adapt to changing circumstances
  • The comprehensive approach may overlook some critical issues

Incremental Planning Model

The incremental planning model is another popular approach in the tourism industry. This model involves making small changes or improvements over time instead of developing a long-term strategy from scratch. The incremental planning model aims to improve existing plans gradually.

Advantages:

  • Is more flexible than other models as it allows for constant adjustments and improvements.
  • Easier to implement than other approaches.
  • Inexpensive compared to other models.

Disadvantages:

  • The approach may not address some significant issues that require more drastic changes.
  • May not be suitable for organizations that require immediate results.
  • Incremental changes might not be sufficient to maintain a competitive edge in the market.

Advocacy Planning Model

The advocacy planning model is a relatively new approach in tourism planning. It involves active community participation and collaboration between different stakeholders, including local residents, businesses, and government agencies. The advocacy planning model aims to develop a sustainable tourism industry that benefits the local community.

Advantages:

  • Ensures that the local community’s interests are well represented in the planning process
  • Promotes sustainable tourism practices that benefit both visitors and locals
  • Fosters collaboration between different stakeholders, leading to more effective decision-making

Disadvantages:

  • The approach can be time-consuming as it requires extensive community involvement.
  • The process may be challenging to manage as it involves working with multiple stakeholders with varying interests.
  • The advocacy model may not be suitable for all tourism projects, especially those that do not involve significant community involvement.

In conclusion, there are several models of planning in tourism, each with its unique advantages and disadvantages. The comprehensive planning model is best suited for organizations looking to develop long-term strategies, while the incremental planning model is suitable for those looking for flexibility.

The advocacy planning model is ideal for sustainable tourism development and community involvement. Ultimately, it is up to individual organizations to determine which approach best suits their needs.