THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

PLANNING PROCESS
Study recognition and preparation Policy and plan formulation
Setting of objectives or goals for Recommendations
the strategy Implementation of the plan
Survey of existing data Monitoring and reformulation
Implementation of new surveys
Analyses
 Setting of objectives or
1 Study recognition
and preparation
2 goals for the strategy
The first stage in planning process is Goals and objective need to be
associated with the recognition of the formulated according to SMART
need for the strategy in order to obtain
principles, where the acronym
and/or increase competitive advantage
stands for specific, measurable,
to contribute to long term growth.
achievable, realistic and time
Depending on available budget and
arrange of other factors, studies maybe bound.
planned to be conducted on local
regional, national level.
 3 Survey of existing data

The survey of existing data or secondary research can be done through analyzing relevant information
available on wide range of tourism reviews websites, newspaper, magazines, books and other online and
offline published materials.

The types of data that need to be collected from these sources include, but not limited to patterns of tourist
behaviours, availability and quality of accommodation, impacts of environmental factors, social and
cultural characteristics of tourism destinations etc.

Importantly, the survey of existing data should cover all three directions: the state of issues at present,
projected changes in the state of issue, and outline of principles for monitoring for the future.
4 Implementation of new surveys 5 Analyses

New surveys are conducted in order to obtain In case of questionnaires, data analysis can be
done through representing collected
fresh data and/or fill the information gap in
information in bar-charts, pie-charts etc. In
relation to the tourism industry. Surveys can be
case of interviews, on the other hand, data
conducted through online or offline
analysis may involve finding common
questionnaires or interviews. When conducting
patterns in responses provided sample group
the survey it is very important to select
members and critically analyzing theses
respondents i.e. sample group member froms
patterns. IN data analysis it is important for
amongst target customers fro tourism secondary and primary data to be analysed in
destinations. an integrated manner.
 6 Policy and Plan Formulation Recommendations
7
As the next stage in planning process, analysis of the
A set of recommendations can be
entire primary and secondary information enable
developed as a result of initial
decision makers to develop initial policies and formulate
policy and initial plan
initial plans.
formulations.

9 Monitoring and
8 Implementation of the plan
Reformulation
Recommendations that are found as sensible
and feasible by strategic level executives can The last stage of the planning process involves
be implemented into the practice monitoring the levels and nature of implementation of
plans and engaging in strategy re-formulation if changes
in internal and especially external environment
 DEVELOPMENT PLANNING LAYERS

International tourism planning

National tourism planning

Regional/Local tourism planning

 International Tourism Planning
at the international level tourism planning typically involves: international transportation services; the movement and
scheduling of the tours of tourists among different countries, the development of major tourist attractions and facilities
in neighboring countries and the working strategies and promotional programs of many countries.

Examples:
• World tourism organization
• World travel and tourism council
• World wildlife fund
• World congress against the commercial sexual exploitation of children
 National Tourism Planning
The national level of tourism planning is concerned with: tourism policy; infrastructure facilities and s physical
structure plan which includes important tourist attractions, selected tourism development regions, international entry
points, facilities and services. It is also concerned with: the amount, kinds, and quality of accommodation and other
required tourist facilities and services; the important tour routes ion the country and their regional connections; tourism
marketing strategies and promotion; education and tr5aining programs and environmental economic and socio-cultural
analysis.

Examples:
• Department of tourism
 Regional/Local Tourism Planning
• Regional planning looks at aspects including; regional policy: regional entry points and transportation facilities
and services; kinds of tourist attractions and their locations; the amount, kinds, and location of tourist
accommodation and other tourist facilities, and services and location of tourist development areas including resort
areas.

• In addition they will manage; socio-cultural, environmental, economic, and impact analysis’s; education and
training programs on the regional level; marketing techniques and promotion; organizational establishments, laws,
regulations and investment policies and implementation methods which include project plans and regional zoning
regulations
 DEVELOPMENT PLAN
TEAM

The Development plan team will consist of four groups of

specialists, falling into the broad categories of technical
services, marketing specialists, planners and economists
 DEVELOPMENT PLAN
FIVE DISTINCT PHASES

1 Identification and inventory 4 Specific project development

of the existing situation

2 Forecasts for the future

5 Implementation

3 Plan formulation
The successful development of tourism requires the construction of a
development plan or strategy that is flexible and thorough.

Flexibility is required in order to adjust and reformulate in response

to internal and external changes.

Thoroughness is required because of the complexity of the tourism

industry and the economic, environmental and social consequences
of its development.
 Although the process of tourism development planning will be specific from
destination to destination there are processes that need to be followed at
national and sub-national levels and these processes provide the
framework for tourism development planning.

Tourism development plan failure is likely to be attributable to failures at

either the design stage (inadequate planning structure) or the
Implementation stage .

It is important that authorities have contingency plans in place to deal with

unexpected events that may knock the tourism strategy off corse.