System Dynamics framework for tourism development management

ABSTRACT

Tourism management requires an understanding of the structures that govern the behaviour of the Tourism system and its development. Despite the strong growth of this activity in recent decades, studies in this regard are still below needs. In this context, the purpose of this paper was to investigate the cause–effect relationships between variables related to Tourism development using the System Dynamics technique. A bibliographic research was carried out to provide empirical evidence for the construction of the model. The result presented is a Causal Loop Diagram composed of seven units in dynamic interaction: tourists, natural and cultural resources, attractions (attractiveness), infrastructure and superstructure, Tourism services and equipment, Tourism demand (market) and competitive rivalry (market). The microenvironment and macroenvironment of the system were also highlighted. The results show that the pattern of Tourism Development Dynamics, with two dominant loops conjugated in negative feedback, follows the behaviour of an S-Shaped Curve. However, this behaviour can be altered by the influence of infrastructure and superstructure on natural and cultural resources.

KEYWORDS:

• Tourism management
• Tourism system
• destination
• systems thinking
• Causal Loop Diagram
• model

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).