Optimizing or maximizing growth? A challenge for sustainable tourism

Gössling, S; Ring, A; Dwyer, L; Andersson, AC; Hall, CM

Optimizing or maximizing growth? A challenge for sustainable tourism

Gössling, S Ring, A Dwyer, L

Andersson, AC Hall, CM

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Publisher:: ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 2016, 24, (4), pp. 527-548
Issue Date:: 2016-04-02

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Gössling, S
dc.contributor.author	Ring, A
dc.contributor.author	Dwyer, L https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9797-1043
dc.contributor.author	Andersson, AC
dc.contributor.author	Hall, CM
dc.date.accessioned	2022-08-17T19:34:46Z
dc.date.available	2022-08-17T19:34:46Z
dc.date.issued	2016-04-02
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 2016, 24, (4), pp. 527-548
dc.identifier.issn	0966-9582
dc.identifier.issn	1747-7646
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/160431
dc.description.abstract	Virtually all destinations seek to increase tourist numbers, pursuing economic maximization strategies. Considerably less attention is paid to optimizing existing tourist systems to create more profitable, stable, resilient and potentially more sustainable entities. While aspects of tourist expenditure, average length of stay and seasonality as three key destination management variables have received considerable attention in the literature, focus has usually been on the identification of “profitable” tourism markets by considering observed patterns of spending, length of stay and vacation timing. Building on such earlier studies, this paper focuses on flexibilities in these parameters: could tourists have spent more, stayed longer or visited during a different season? Perceptions of destination expensiveness as a potential deterrent to visitation were also addressed. Based on a sample (n = 1914) of domestic and international tourists in the Swedish cities of Kalmar and Stockholm, data were collected in face-to-face interviews using questionnaires. Results indicate considerable potential to optimize the Swedish tourism system with regard to all variables studied, while also providing new insights for destination management in the context of economic resilience. Results also indicate the need for researchers everywhere to have detailed market knowledge if they are to persuade the industry to change its sustainability behavior.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Sustainable Tourism
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1080/09669582.2015.1085869
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1503 Business and Management, 1506 Tourism, 1604 Human Geography
dc.subject.classification	Sport, Leisure & Tourism
dc.title	Optimizing or maximizing growth? A challenge for sustainable tourism
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	24
utslib.for	1503 Business and Management
utslib.for	1506 Tourism
utslib.for	1604 Human Geography
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Business
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-08-17T19:34:45Z
pubs.issue	4
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	24
utslib.citation.issue	4

Abstract:

Virtually all destinations seek to increase tourist numbers, pursuing economic maximization strategies. Considerably less attention is paid to optimizing existing tourist systems to create more profitable, stable, resilient and potentially more sustainable entities. While aspects of tourist expenditure, average length of stay and seasonality as three key destination management variables have received considerable attention in the literature, focus has usually been on the identification of “profitable” tourism markets by considering observed patterns of spending, length of stay and vacation timing. Building on such earlier studies, this paper focuses on flexibilities in these parameters: could tourists have spent more, stayed longer or visited during a different season? Perceptions of destination expensiveness as a potential deterrent to visitation were also addressed. Based on a sample (n = 1914) of domestic and international tourists in the Swedish cities of Kalmar and Stockholm, data were collected in face-to-face interviews using questionnaires. Results indicate considerable potential to optimize the Swedish tourism system with regard to all variables studied, while also providing new insights for destination management in the context of economic resilience. Results also indicate the need for researchers everywhere to have detailed market knowledge if they are to persuade the industry to change its sustainability behavior.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/160431