Policy Considerations & Structure Planning

1. Policy Considerations & Structure Planning - Aritro Dasgupta

2. Structure Plan • Physical framework • Location of development

3. Formulating Tourism Development Policy • Set of statements related to various aspects of tourism development • Based on several considerations • Tourism policy must be well integrated with the overall national developmental policy • National & regional objectives must prevail over individual, group or sector interests

4. Basic Issues While Framing Tourism Policy • Reasons for developing tourism • Economic reasons • Social reasons • Environmental / conservation reasons • Forms of tourism to be developed • Market-led v/s Product-led • Extent of tourism development • Growth rate of tourism to be aimed at

5. Basic Issues While Framing Tourism Policy • Balance of power & involvement between government & private sector • Inter-relationship between domestic & international tourism • Supporting education & training programmes • Social integration of tourism

6. Formulating Structure Plan • Gateway concept • Clustering approach • International institutional recognition • Tourist circuits • Staging

7. Gateway Concept • International & suitable regional access points essential for successful conduct of tourism operations; especially for long haul tourists • Includes land border & sea crossings • In a small country / region single gateway may work, but in larger several gateways necessary

8. Gateway Concept • Multiple gateways allow flexibility to enter from one point & exit from another • Shopping & other leisure facilities at gateways so tourists can enjoy along the way

9. Clustering Approach • Clustering is the approach of advocating for tourist locations to be situated near one another in order to save traveling time & cost for tourists • Special transport (especially railways) packages are created so that tourists may combine 3-4 places situated near one another

10. Clustering Approach • Induces people to stay longer as number of locations can be covered without substantial increase in expense / time • Logical geographic clustering • Can cater to different segments / types of tourists • Often secondary attractions developed near primary attractions

11. Advantages of Clustering Approach • Cost reduction • Time saving • New destinations developed near traditional ones

12. Disadvantages of Clustering Approach • Isolated but important tourist destinations may get ignored in the rat race • Can lead to excessive pollution along a stretch as number of destinations developed parallel to one another

13. International Institutional Recognition • Recognition from international agencies like UNESCO (World Heritage), travel magazine like Lonely Planet & Conde Nast, corporations like Thomas Cook etc. • City twinning concept

14. Tourist Circuits • Excursion routes officially designated in the tourism plan • Passing through scenic areas with stopovers in between • Specific activities listed for the spots • Loops in the circuit route to avoid backtracking • Initiation centres

15. Staging • Staging areas provide tourist facilities & services for overnight stays of tourists waiting for transportation to other parts of the country • There is often additional experience provided to make overnight stays more worthy • Tourism regions must be selected in such a way that each region may be able to operate as an independent unit

16. Selecting Development Sites • Located near major tourist attractions without directly impinging upon natural features • Desirable micro-climatic conditions • Sufficient amount of available & developable land where other activities would not have been more profitable • Existing or potential access from gateway to the area & from area to other attractions

17. Selecting Development Sites • Suitable general area without any excessive pollution of any sort • Existing availability of basic infrastructure like water, electricity, sewage etc. • Positive attitude of nearby residents • Availability of labour supply

18. Reducing Seasonality • Seasonality leads to underuse of tourism facilities • Seasonality may occur due to type of tourist attraction or tourist characteristics (or both) • Thus national or regional plan must incorporate alternatives in order to reduce wastage of resources

19. Reducing Seasonality • Pricing techniques may be applied to attract tourists during lean season • Marketing may be targeted especially towards older people (60+) as they are often free to travel irrespective of holiday season considerations • Conferences & corporate trainings another way of generating business during low season

20. Thank You