Key participants in the growth of the tourism sector
This article seeks to pinpoint the primary stakeholders involved in tourism development. Stakeholders play a crucial role in any organization or industry, as achieving success becomes unlikely without their backing and dedication.
A stakeholder is an individual, collective, or entity that influences or is influenced by an organization. Johnson, Scholes & Whittington (2006) define stakeholders as parties who rely on the organization to achieve their objectives and who are also essential to the organization’s functioning.
Engaging stakeholders in the decision-making process is crucial for the sustainable development of tourism. As highlighted by UNWTO (2005), numerous stakeholders can influence tourism planning and development, either directly or indirectly. These stakeholders fulfill diverse roles and may occasionally pursue conflicting goals and priorities.
To grasp the significance of stakeholders in tourism development, recognizing the primary stakeholders is essential. The subsequent discussion explores this topic.
National governments are crucial in shaping tourism development. They oversee and coordinate tourism initiatives on a nationwide scale. Effective planning at this level demands the creation and execution of suitable policies.
National governments are responsible for a range of duties, including the construction and upkeep of infrastructure like roads, railways, and ports. They also work to market destinations to both domestic and international visitors while guaranteeing the safety and security of tourists.
The 2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy by the U.S. government seeks to establish the nation as a top-tier destination while fostering a travel and tourism industry that spurs economic expansion, generates quality employment, and advances conservation and sustainability efforts (ITA, 2023).
The UK government has made significant investments to promote tourism beyond London and improve transportation throughout Britain, enabling both domestic and international travelers to discover the diverse attractions available nationwide.
Local governments responsible for tourism-related affairs also contribute significantly to the growth of the tourism sector. They work to highlight regional tourist destinations, offer necessary infrastructure and amenities for visitors, and address the effects of tourism activities.
In 2022, the Mayor of London reinforced his dedication to enhancing tourism across the city. The tourism sector plays a crucial role in both the social and economic fabric of the capital (GLA, 2023).
Local governments are better equipped to recognize the distinct qualities of a destination and can craft genuine experiences for potential visitors.
Tourism businesses and organizations fulfill diverse functions in the growth of tourism. For instance, airlines, trains, and buses move travelers between destinations, while restaurants offer meals and beverages, and hotels supply lodging.
Tour operators, travel agencies, and tourist information centers also belong to this group. Indeed, international travel is nearly unattainable without the involvement of tourism organizations.
Travelers, such as those on business trips, as well as guests visiting tourist spots, landmarks, and attractions, are often the most crucial stakeholders. These visitors explore destinations, contribute financially, and can advocate for the attractions via recommendations and online platforms if they have a satisfying experience.
A negative experience may deter tourists from revisiting the attractions and could lead them to share unfavorable reviews. Such an outcome can be highly damaging for any destination.
Tourism workers, experts, and advisors are also crucial to the growth of the tourism industry. As reported by Visit Britain (2023), tourism has consistently been the UK’s leading sector in job creation for many years. By 2025, it is projected to sustain nearly 3.8 million jobs, accounting for approximately 11% of the country’s total workforce.
These numbers highlight the critical role of tourism workers and experts. Without enough staff or a lack of qualified professionals in the industry, businesses like restaurants, hotels, airlines, buses, and trains would face significant challenges.
The involvement of local communities is crucial for the growth of tourism. They might have valid reservations and could oppose certain tourism initiatives. As a result, it’s essential to include them in relevant decision-making processes whenever suitable.
Local communities offer essential perspectives on the needs and priorities of residents, along with meaningful input regarding potential tourism development initiatives.
Local communities, with their unique traditions and customs, enhance the appeal of tourist destinations. Visitors can gain numerous advantages from engaging with the local population.
Non-government organizations play a crucial role as stakeholders in tourism development. They frequently address social and environmental concerns, offering essential perspectives on the possible effects of tourism development initiatives.
Tourism planners must also account for additional stakeholders. These include financial institutions backing tourism initiatives, labor unions representing workers, industry professionals, educational institutions focused on tourism, and specialized organizations dedicated to the sector, all of which contribute to tourism growth in diverse ways.
This article shifts its focus to the significance of stakeholders in tourism development after examining their roles. As previously outlined, tourism planners need to account for the various stakeholders involved in the process.
The contemporary tourism industry operates as an intricate network of interdependent stakeholders. Consequently, recognizing their requirements and aspirations is essential for achieving optimal outcomes in the planning and execution of tourism initiatives.
Stakeholders offer insightful input on planned initiatives, aiding in the early detection of possible issues before they escalate. This proactive approach can result in reduced expenses and improved project management efficiency.
Involving stakeholders in tourism development is a multifaceted endeavor. Recognizing their interests is crucial to guaranteeing their perspectives are considered. Equally vital is making certain they believe their contributions are respected and acknowledged.
Engaging stakeholders in tourism development can be achieved through various strategies and methods, such as direct communication, public meetings, focus groups, and surveys. Choosing the appropriate strategy and method for each stakeholder group is crucial, as their responses may vary depending on the engagement approach used.
Direct communication allows stakeholders to be engaged individually or in small groups. This interaction can occur face-to-face, via phone calls, or through email exchanges.
Public meetings serve as an effective platform to involve broad groups of stakeholders. They offer a valuable opportunity for all participants to express their views and address any issues. Proper organization and inclusive participation are essential to the success of such meetings.
Surveys offer an effective way to involve stakeholders broadly, delivering useful information about their priorities and issues. Yet, they typically generate only quantitative results.
Engaging stakeholders in tourism development presents several difficulties.
A major obstacle in engaging stakeholders for tourism development is the absence of trust among them. Such distrust often results in disputes, hindering effective participation in the tourism development process.
A further obstacle is the scarcity of resources. Engaging stakeholders becomes challenging when insufficient resources hinder the process, such as limited time, funding, or staff. As a result, securing enough resources is essential for effective stakeholder engagement.
Effective approaches to address the difficulties of engaging stakeholders in tourism development
To address the difficulties of involving stakeholders in tourism development, various approaches can be employed. A key method is to guarantee that all parties receive necessary information and believe their contributions are respected and acknowledged.
A different approach involves maintaining transparency and inclusivity throughout the engagement process. This fosters trust among stakeholders and ensures their active and meaningful participation.
Involving stakeholders in tourism development offers numerous advantages. Recognizing their priorities and including them in decision-making can lead to better project design, secure funding, and effective management.
However, it should be noted that not all stakeholders possess equal influence or interest in a given tourism initiative. Consequently, planners must pinpoint the key stakeholders involved in tourism development to formulate an effective communication approach. The article onIdentifying and analyzing stakeholders—evaluating their roles and interestsoffers additional details on determining the key stakeholders.
We trust you found the article ‘Stakeholders in tourism development’ informative. Feel free to spread the word by sharing the link on your social media platforms. You might also enjoy these related reads:
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GLA (2023) Mayor reiterates dedication to enhancing tourism, available at: https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/mayor-reaffirms-commitment-to-boosting-tourism (accessed 22 January 2023)
Johnson, G., Scholes, K., & Whittington, R. (2006). *Exploring Corporate Strategy*, 7th Edition.thedition, Prentice Hall
ITA (2023) National Travel and Tourism Strategy 2022, accessible at: https://www.trade.gov/national-travel-and-tourism-strategy (retrieved 22 January 2023)
Pearson Education Limited (2011) Travel and Tourism Management: Study Guide, Essex: Pearson Education Limited
Visit Britain (2023) Facts about Britain’s visitor economy, available at: https://www.visitbritain.org/visitor-economy-facts (accessed 22 January 2023)
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Author: M Rahman
M Rahman is an accomplished writer, contributing both online and offline, with a focus on business management, marketing, and tourism. He serves as a lecturer in Management and Marketing. Rahman earned an MSc in Tourism & Hospitality from the University of Sunderland. Additionally, he holds a BA in Business & Management Studies from Leeds Metropolitan University and a DTLLS (Diploma in Teaching in the Life-Long Learning Sector) from London South Bank University.
