engleski

TOURISM AND DESTINATION IDENTITIES: POLICY IMPLICATIONS

Tourism destination is characterized by the numerous imbalances. On the basic level, there is the immanent conflict resulting from the relationships between external demand and internal supply, seen in the overuse of public goods namely natural and cultural resources including local lifestyle. On the next level, there is also an imminent imbalance, resulting from internal conflict of interest between destination stakeholders with varying views on use of public goods. These points are need for the focus broadening of analysis from consumers and producers to usage of spaces where tourism activity takes place. Thus, spatial considerations and specifically spatial identities become the central issue in sustainable tourism destination development. Spatial identity is however also burdened by imbalances stemming from the differing identities of tourists and locals, as well as the differing identities of destination stakeholders themselves who do not necessarily all come from destination itself bringing their own identities into play. In this sense, spatial identity is fluid, impermanent and multidimensional. What are the implications for destination management? This issue is explored through qualitative research, in this first phase based on focus groups including members of the academic community, public and private sector in selected Croatian destinations. The conducted pilot research shows that strategic tourism planning of tourism areas gives possible answers to externalities, imperfect markets, and usage of public goods. In conditions of market failures deliberations of tourism destination development must be subject to its carrying capacity as a composite expression of its physical characteristic, tourism resource and attraction potential, as well as of infrastructure, demographic and institutional constraint.

destination, identity, space, tourism planning, sustainable tourism

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