Abstract
One criticism of the tourism area lifecycle model is that it treats destinations as homogeneous entities. Instead destinations can be conceptualised as a mosaic of elements, each of which can follow a lifecycle that is different from that of the destination overall. This paper examines this issue with reference to amusement arcades in British seaside resorts and triangulates secondary sources and in-depth interviews to examine the historical evolution of this sector. It argues that the arcade sector has followed a lifecycle trajectory that is independent of the resorts in which they are located. A range of internal/external factors and global, national and local influences have affected the lifecycle of the arcade sector, including global developments in the entertainment industries; the influence of state policies and legislation; and the responses of local entrepreneurs to resort restructuring. The paper ends by arguing that destinations can be conceptualised as 'assemblages' of interacting elements.
Highlights
One of the most influential models within tourism studies is the tourist area lifecycle (TALC) (Butler, 1980)
While seaside resorts began to decline during the 1960s, the arcade sector entered the start of a second lifecycle that was increasingly independent from that of the broader resort sector
Evolutionary models of tourism destinations have treated them as homogeneous units that respond in a uniform way to changes in demand
Summary
One of the most influential models within tourism studies is the tourist area lifecycle (TALC) (Butler, 1980). Researchers recognise that a destination is not a uniform entity but instead comprises a mosaic of elements (Cooper and Jackson, 1989; Agarwal, 1997; Ma and Hassink, 2013) each of which may experience its own lifecycle which is independent from that of the destination as a whole (Haywood, 1986; Agarwal, 1997; Gale, 2007) This highlights a need to disaggregate the destination as the unit of analysis, and focus instead on the lifecycle trajectories of individual components of the destination mosaic and the specific influences upon such trajectories. Most of this work has treated the destination as a homogeneous unit and has neglected the trajectory of individual components within it This analysis addresses this issue by focussing in detail on the lifecycle of a specific element of the British seaside resort mosaic that has received very little academic attention to date: amusement arcades (Chapman and Light, 2011).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
