Tourism planning: impacts as benchmarks for sustainable development plans

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive list of indicators to be used in the tourism sector, in support of the development of sustainable strategic plans. Specific objectives include making a comprehensive assessment and categorization of those indicators and facilitating an easier to use system that guarantees the use of those benchmarks as a base for objectives definition and performance standards monitorization.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopted a descriptive design using secondary data. The data was analysed using content analysis and a posteriori categorization system, resulting in 87 indicators divided into positive and negative within six categories.

Findings

The results showed that there are six key factors that may have a significant impact on tourism development suggesting they could be used for setting objectives and performance indicators when developing a strategic plan, and therefore, ensuring the sustainability of a destination and its stakeholders.

Practical implications

The framework adopted in this study offers a practical tool to be used by destination and organizations planners to improve sustainable tourism performance in relation to economic, socio-cultural, psychological, political/administrative, tourism/commercial and environmental/physical measurement standards. This guidance may help decision-makers to design, manage and control sustainable strategic plans in a more effective way.

Originality/value

This paper links the academic debate on the impacts of tourism with the designing and implementation of sustainable tourism policies and strategies.

Citation

Salazar, A. and Cardoso, C. (2019), "Tourism planning: impacts as benchmarks for sustainable development plans", Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 11 No. 6, pp. 652-659. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-08-2019-0048