An Analytical Model of Tourist Destination Development and Characteristics of the Development Stages: Example of the Island of Bornholm

Adam R Szromek

doi:10.3390/su11246989

Abstract

This paper presents the basis of the tourism area life cycle (TALC) concept and its extension in the context of the implementation of sustainable development practices in the tourist business model. The author uses the logistic function to determine the level of tourist absorption and capacity. The empirical basis of the methods used was statistics on the development of the tourist industry on Bornholm. The objective of the paper is to determine the stage of development of the tourist area of Bornholm and the consequences of this stage for business models of tourist enterprises functioning there. The results of the analysis indicate that the range of tourist absorption was reached in the 1960s–1970s, and that it is currently getting closer to the upper threshold of that range. Tourism on Bornholm, in line with the TALC concept, is currently in the stabilization stage. Future tourist trends on Bornholm depend on many factors; however, if tourist development goes into the decline stage, the offered products may require transformation, in terms of both transport and the form and availability of tourist attractions. Perhaps this will involve a total transformation of the island into a facility with a specific entertainment, leisure, or business profile. The listed solutions will require entrepreneurs to react within the scope of a transformation of their business models into sustainable models of tourist business.

Highlights

Sustainable tourism, which has been developing rapidly for only a few decades, assumes that it is necessary to responsibly manage and use the natural and cultural resources made available for tourists
It is a concept referring to the degradation of the natural and cultural environment caused by excessive tourist activity and the infrastructure established in tourist areas
Starting from the 21st century, this phenomenon has become an important element in running a tourist business, because, as researchers have noted [1] since 2002 in the academic literature, one can observe a specific kind of business model which is a sustainable business model, defined as a set of components in which the components and the stakeholders interact to create, provide, capture, and list sustainable value [2]

Summary

Introduction

Sustainable tourism, which has been developing rapidly for only a few decades, assumes that it is necessary to responsibly manage and use the natural and cultural resources made available for tourists. The most frequently confirmed approach by researchers, the concept of the tourism area life cycle (TALC) proposed by Butler [4], assumes the possibility of developing tourist areas in stages, which will result in exceeding the critical tourist capacity of the area, after which a reversal of the growing trend of increasing numbers of tourists visiting the area and a slow disappearance of the tourist function will occur. It is associated with the degradation of natural and cultural areas that previously encouraged tourists to visit the area and excessively expand the tourist industry.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion