Tourist Resort Life Cycle

Model

Time

Num

ber o

f To

urist

s

Exploration

Involvement

Development

Consolidation

StagnationRejuvenation

Decline

Exploration

Involvement

Development

Consolidation

Stagnation

Rejuvenation

Decline

Exploration• Small numbers of visitors attracted by natural beauty

or cultural characteristics• Tourist numbers are limited.• Few tourist facilities exist.

Involvement• Limited involvement by local residents to provide some

facilities for tourists.• There is a recognisable ‘tourist season’.• There begins to be a definite tourist market.

Development• Large numbers of tourists arrive.• Control passes from the locals to external organisations

(TNCs).• Increase in tension between local people and tourists.

Consolidation• Tourism has become a major part of the local economy.• Visitor numbers start to level off (at a high number).• Some older facilities are seen as second-rate.

Stagnation• Peak numbers of tourists have been reached.• The resort is no longer considered fashionable.

Rejuvenation / Decline• Attractiveness continues to decline.• Visitors are lost to other resorts and destinations.• Resort becomes dependent on day visitors and

weekend recreationalists from a limited geographical area.

• Long term decline will continue unless action is taken to rejuvenate the area and modernise.

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