Tourism Destination Management

Tourism Destination simply a refers to a concept which describe a unique place where a visitor spends sometime, sleep over and exhibit tourism products. Destinations are characterised with attractions, support services as well as other tourism resources.

Introduction

in the view of Medlik’s tourism destinations refer to places within countries, regions and towns which attract or appeal to tourists. These areas are often associated with tourist activities, and often account for tourists’ time and spending in terms of the provision of tourist attractions-- appealing and comfortable accommodations and other tourist facilities and services. Destination management involves the overall planning of a tourism location, including land use planning, business permits and zoning controls, environmental and other regulations and laws, which are meant to impact on the development of a tourism location and the day-to day operation of a tourist site in the operation of tourism-related activities.

Learning Objectives

The learning objectives of this course are to:

• introduce learners to the concepts of 'destination' and " destination management" within the purview of the discipline of tourism and hospitality;
• help the learners to make conceptual clarification and differentiation; and
• prepare the learners on how to draw destination action plan for given tourism destinations.

Reasons for Destination Management

Among the numerous reasons that necessitate destination management in tourism include the overall national development. As a result of the increasing impact of tourism on national development in terms of socio-economic, environmental, infrastructural and technological advancement, the management of tourism destinations have become important in the 21st century. Also, since tourism is interrelated and dependent on entrepreneurship and sustainable development, proper management of tourism destination cannot be ignored. Still on national development and the impact of tourism, apart from the physiological and psychological implications of tourism to individual development, the socio-economic implications of tourism on national development, which include the achievement of economic growth and development through the provision of employment opportunities and encouragement of foreign investment cannot be overemphasised.

Sustainable Tourism

The trend in environmental sustainability as a global practice has given birth to sustainable tourism, which is an important point to note in destination management. By sustainable tourism, we refer to a concept which describes the kind of tourism that aims at protecting and promoting the natural environment of the people, the human and material resources as well as the cultural norms, and ethics of the local community (Angelkova et al., 2012). Sustainability is necessary in tourism in order to lessen the negative influences experienced during the tourism destination development process. Not only this, the aim sustainable tourism is meeting the demands of local community through the improvement of the quality of life of the people by creating employment opportunities, preserving their cultural heritage, enhancing business linkages, and the overall public image of the rural community. Sustainable tourism is also necessary so as to enhance the tourists experiences (Andereck & Nyaupane, 2011; Sharpley, 2003).

The Development of a Tourist Destination: An Illustration of Monmouthshire

As a local community within the South-East of Wales, Monmouth is one of the major settlements within the county known as Monmouthshire. Monmouthshire has a land mass which is approximately 880 square kilometers. The population of this local community is about 95,164, 53% of which reside in wards, equivalent of a city. Also, this settlement serves as a borderland between England and the former industrial heartlands of the South Wales valleys (gov.wales Catalogue, 2020).Monmouthshire is also regarded as Welsh Sir Fynwy's county of southeastern Wales.

Tourism Features in Monmouthshire

There are quite a number of tourism features that makes Monmouthshire an appropriate destination, a center for tourists attraction. the features are highlighted as follows:

Historic Features

The important historic attributes that give Monmouth a distinctive identity are the historic market, towns and villages; how these entities relate with the surrounding rural areas is quite stupefying. Other historic heritages include historic parks and gardens (like Clydach Gorge Landscape), architectural structures that are assets of historic antecedents, and areas that are representations of the peoples historical and cultural values.

Landscape Resources

The landscape features that characterize and give Monmouth a competitive advantage as a the tourist attraction include:

• Gwent Levels in the south;
• Brecon Beacons in the north;
• Wye Valley in the east;
• Blaenavon Industrial World Heritage Site in the north-west ;
• Tintern Abbey;

These features are outstanding and uniquely embedded with natural aesthetics. What adds to the beautiful landscape of Monmouth is the fertility of the soil of the locality for green sustainability (Fynwn, 2022)..