TDP Experience Perth - Tourism Western Australia

Notably, the direction of the curve after the period of stabilisation (and ultimate
lifecycle of a tourism destination) is open to several possibilities:
• Successful redevelopment of man-made or natural tourism assets could result
in renewed growth and expansion (see curve A).
• Minor modification and adjustment to capacity levels, and continued
protection of resources, could allow continued growth at a much reduced
rate (see curve B).
• A readjustment to meet all capacity levels could create a more stable level of
visitation to be maintained in the longer term after an initial readjustment
downwards (see curve C).
• Continued unsustainable overuse of natural tourism resources, nonreplacement
of aging tourism product and infrastructure, and decreasing
competitiveness relative to other tourism destinations would result in a
marked decline (see curve D).
• The intervention of various shock factors, such as war, disease, major
environmental damage or other catastrophes could result in an immediate
and rapid decline in visitor numbers from which it may be extremely difficult
to recover (see curve E).
Although a consistent evolution of tourism destinations can be placed in a broad
theoretical model such as that proposed by Richard Butler, it must be emphasised
that not all areas experience the stages of the cycle as clearly as others. Specifically,
the shape of the curve must be expected to vary for different areas, reflecting
variations in such factors as the rate of development, numbers of visitors,
accessibility, government policies and numbers of similarly competing areas.
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Experience Perth
Tourism Western Australia | Tourism Development Priorities