The tourist experience: can destinations maintain authenticity?

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to identify key problems destinations face in maintaining their appeal to the tourist market while experiencing increasing numbers of visitors and impacts upon the quality of their offerings.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the literature on impacts of tourism and the application of sustainable development principals in the context of destination development, along with the most recent literature on the concept of resilience and its application to tourism.

Findings

The paper briefly examines the concerns over the increasing numbers of visitors and their motivations, and then the likely effects on key attributes of destinations. The limitations of using the generic approach of sustainability are briefly reviewed and reasons for the failure of this approach outlined. An alternative way of protecting image and critical attributes of destinations, namely, the application of the concept of resilience, is then discussed. This approach is described and potential applications are presented.

Practical implications

It is argued that a switch from trying to amend the behaviour of tourists to making destinations better able to withstand inevitable impacts of increased visitation is a much more realistic and feasible approach which does not necessarily involve reducing visitor numbers or attempting to change markets. This approach is a more appropriate way to ensure a longer life-cycle for destinations.

Originality/value

Until now, relatively little has been presented on the application of resilience to tourism and to destinations in particular; yet, the potential benefits of this approach are considerable and deserve wider consideration.

Citation

Butler, R. (2017), "The tourist experience: can destinations maintain authenticity?", Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 9 No. 6, pp. 617-626. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-09-2017-0044