TDP Experience Perth - Tourism Western Australia

Appendix B – The Tourism Area Lifecycle
The tourism area lifecycle pattern which has been put forward by
Richard W Butler (for a full review, see Aspects of Tourism: The
Tourism Area Life Cycle Vol. 1 Applications and Modifications 2006,
p3-12, Channel View Publications) is based on the product lifecycle
concept, and is outlined in the diagram below. The subsequent
section summarises Richard Butler’s views on the key implications of
each stage of the tourism area lifecycle.
Starting in the bottom left hand corner of this model, the exploration
stage is characterised by small numbers of tourists making individual
travel arrangements and following irregular visitation patterns. At
this time there would be no specific facilities provided for visitors,
requiring the use of local facilities. As a consequence, the physical
and social characteristics of the destination would be unchanged by
tourism, bearing little impact on the economic and social existence of
local residents.
As the numbers of visitors increase and patterns of visitation become
more regular, some local residents will enter the involvement stage,
whereby they begin to provide facilities tailored specifically for visitors
to the area. Contact between visitors and locals increases and efforts
commence to identify visitor markets and undertake some level
of advertising. A tourist season begins to emerge, and the social
patterns of involved local residents are adjusted. Pressure starts to
be placed on government and public agencies to provide or improve
suitable transport and other relevant facilities and amenities for
visitors.
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Experience Perth
Tourism Western Australia | Tourism Development Priorities