In general, tourism destination area life cycle describes the evolution of tourist area as it passes through the stages of initial, development, consolidation, stagnation and decline with the growth of tourist area. Tourism destination area life cycle...
In general, tourism destination area life cycle describes the evolution of tourist area as it passes through the stages of initial, development, consolidation, stagnation and decline with the growth of tourist area. Tourism destination area life cycle is based upon the product life cycle and the doctrine of evolution.
The models about the growth of tourist area evolution are the Butler model, the Crompton and Hensarling model, the Plog model, the Doxey model, the Miossec model, the Cooper model, the Polli and Cook model. But these models do not fit for tourist area in Korea. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop tourism destination area life cycle model through the case study of Suanbo area in Korea.
Suanbo provides a good vehicle for studying the tourist destination area life cycle because of its age and evolution within a tourist-driven economy. Suanbo is located near Chungju city in Chungbuk province of South Korea and has participated in a long history of tourism development associated with Youngnam road(one of the main route during the Koryo and Yi Dynasty).
To develop tourism destination area life cycle in Suanbo, I hypothesized 8 items which are the network of transportation, the lodging length of tourists, accommodation, the competitor areas, advertisement, administration of government, the environment effect of tourism, and the attitudes of residents. After testing the hypotheses are founded on Suanbo, I accepted indicators which are suitable for Suanbo to build tourism destination area life cycle model. And when the accepted indicators are displayed by time series, 5 time axises are appeared. First axis(initial stage) is appeared from 929 to 1907. Second axis (development stage) is appeared from 1908 to 1983. Third axis (consolidation stage) is appeared from 1984 to 1991. Fourth axis(stagnation stage) is appeared from 1992 to 1997. Fifth axis(decline stage) is appeared from 1998 to date. I decided to apply 5 time axises to the stages of tourism destination area life cycle in Suanbo.
Suanbo has had five stages in the evolution of a tourist area: initial, development, consolidation, stagnation, decline. The initial stage of tourism development in Suanbo occurred in the years between 929 and 1907. In Suanbo, Youngnam road and the Yukwon system(rest station during the Yi Dynasty) existed for public officials and diplomat. The development stages would seem to fit to the periods 1908-1983. The development stage brought much outside capital and diverse amusement offerings in Suanbo. In the former stage (1908-1945) of the developing stage, local initiatives to provide visitor's arriving and control was passed from local hands to external companies which was Yiyub hotel run by Japanese. In the latter stage(1946-1983) of that stage, Korean who lived in Seoul had developed Suanbo. In the consolidation stage (1984-1991), the increase rate of visitors had declined although total numbers were still increasing. It appeared that the number of hotels and hotel accomodations grew at a much faster rate. At stagnation stage(1992-1997), Suanbo is no longer fashionable. In decline(after 1998), visitors moved to newer hot springs which are Ansung and Mungang. And Suanbo, a smaller geographical area becomes dependent on day-trip and weekend visits. Likewise, underutilized hotels which are Royal hotel and Royal Terminal hotel are closed recently.
On the other hand, the rejuvenation stage will not fit to Suanbo. There are some suggestions to boost Suanbo's tourist business. Suanbo has had some features since 1998; minimization of the tourist market place, increment of weekend or day trips, and extinction of tourist facilities. The major problems are the outworn tourist facilities and a lack of funds. The methods to solve this problem are followed. First, the tourist facilities are partially to be replaced by residential area for retiree and the elderly. Second, the open-air stage should be utilized by weekend Norimadang permanently. Third, cool spring in Suanbo Tourism Hotel should be switched to the mineral water.
The indicators including each time axis are set up the indicators of tourism destination area life cycle in Suanbo. The tourism destination area life cycle model made these indicators resorted by 8 items; the network of transportation, the lodging length of tourists, accommodation, the competitor areas, advertisement, administration of government, the environment effect of tourism, and the attitudes of residents through time and space.
According to the tourism destination area life cycle model, the network of transportation has been increasing from the initial stage to the rejuvenation stage. Second, the lodging length of tourists over time are getting reduced from the initial stage to the rejuvenation stage. Third, primary facilities is introduced for visitors in the introduction stage. In the development stage, more up-to-date facilities is provided by external organization. In consolidation stage, the spatial segregation of accommodation is appeared and recreation business districts(RBD) is formed. In the stagnation stage, the existing properties of accommodation are likely to have frequent changes in ownership. In the decline stage, slum districts is appeared in part. Forth, the competitor areas are appeared in the stagnation stage at first. The number of the competitor areas is increasing in the decline and rejuvenation stages. Fifth, the rate of the activity of advertisement peak out in consolidation stage and is decreasing in stagnation and decline stages. Sixth, the regulation of government is getting strong from the initial stage to the rejuvenation stage because hot spring is in possession of government. Seventh, the environment is reflected sensitively the phenomena of tourism. The initial stage is appeared deforests. The rate of change of environment is high in the development stage. In the stagnation stage, the environment is contaminated by tourism. In the rejuvenation stage, the environment is suitable for silver town. Eighth, the attitudes of residents on tourism was negative in the introduction, development, consolidation, stagnation stages. But it has been changed positive from the deline stage. Because the economy of residences in Suanbo has been dependent on tourist industry since stagnation stage.
In conclusion, the Suanbo area life cycle model can be used for forecasting and analyzing tourist areas which is Onyang, Uyusung, Dongrae hot spring in Korea. And it is useful to analyze current situation of Suanbo which is having a hard time for reasons of the economic slump of tourism in this area. In addition, this model can be provided a framework within which to analyze the pattern of tourism development on tourist area which has a long history and small scale.