tics which can switch with little warning from a progres-
sive to a regressive synergy. Although remarkable in its
consistency of growth after 1965 the tourism industry,
above all others, relies on economic growth offshore and
tranquillity and security onshore – both sets of factor
notoriously prone to change. On the positive side the basic
multiplier benefits and knock-on increases in jobs are
broadly beneficial and bring forward infrastructure and
construction programmes of utility to the general popula-
tion. On the negative sideare significant fiscal leakages, such
as taxes avoided through the use of pre-paid expenditure
vouchers issued in the country of origin, degradation of
the natural environment being visited, adverse socio-
cultural impacts, and the inflationary effect of tourism on
local residents.
Expressed here as ‘positive’ and ‘negative’, a useful way
to come to terms with the complexity of tourism enable-
ment is to assess it with a parallel demand side and supply
side analysis (figure 4.6). Of concern is the extent to which
tourism growth expands in a largely unplanned, unstruc-
tured and uncoordinated way. Unbridled growth imposes
itself upon regions with little understanding of the actual
form and character of growth it would be actually desir-
able and acceptable to encourage. As examples: contrast
package holidays which are short-stay and culturally compartmentalized, with
backpacker-style visits which are individually organized, of longer duration and
culturally well absorbed. Clearly much needs to be understood about demand
side and supply side effects, and to determine via Risk Impact Assessment (box
4.5) the benefits and disbenefits to the providers and recipients.
Thedemand sideto the tourism encounter is characterized by a two-part
division. In one division there are within-nation sightseers, recreation seekers and
visitors to friends and relatives; and in the other stranger-visitor sightseers and
recreation seekers. These coexist as a mixture of pleasure-seeking, culture-relating,
sun-seeking, photograph and video-recording, shopping, relationship-seeking,
and nostalgia-reinforcing humanity. Many may achieve little more than a burnt
skin, a depleted pocketbook and an upset stomach – along with some supposed
enhancement of their home and workplace status. Yet their ‘demand’, however
explicit or implicit, is that they experience cultural and also natural ‘delights’
which markedly contrast with those at home, and within a hoped-for context of
conviviality, personal security, freedom of movement and ease of transportation.
The initial challenge is to head off the bad experiences; but equally significant is
the need to even out the peak-season and off-season demand side flows, and to
achieve dispersal away from spot-specific attractions.
Thesupply sideto the encounter centres, foremost, on the components of attrac-
tion; which at base comes down to natural phenomena, cultural events, pristine
environments and the receptiveness of local communities. Attraction may take the
Growth Pattern Management 1731968 – Easter island. Soon after
the completion of the interna-
tional runway I visited this
outpost of Eastern Polynesia with
my family. Never before, or since
so starkly have I personally real-
ized and been able to foretell the
awesome overwhelming impact
of visitors upon hosts.