Creating new tourism destinations : success and failure for developing sustainable niche tourism markets : a case study of Wales

Abstract

The research explores the synergies between resource planning, sustainability, and regeneration policy and the development of niche tourism markets in Wales. The research addresses three particular niche market sectors i) culture and environmental tourism ii) regeneration and urban tourism and iii) rural tourism

The research follows a chronological course that illustrates how such markets have developed between 1995 and 2009. The findings from the research explore notions of planning, regeneration, sustainability and the relationships and synergies that occur between these processes and the development of specialist tourism. The research conclusions from all three niche market sectors suggest there still remain critical policy, resource planning and management issues for achieving sustainability, protecting resources and developing new tourism opportunities. This is particularly pertinent for the effective implementation of sustainable tourism linked to niche market development.

In this context issues concerning the development of niche tourism markets as a sustainable option have been a key research focus. Concerns are raised regarding the role of planning policy, long term strategy, institutional support for sustainable tourism, empowerment of local communities, and tensions between market priorities vis-a-vis conserving environmental and cultural resources. The degree of 'trade off' between these often conflicting policy goals are also explored. In a broader context, evidence from the research document the changing dimensions of planning, regeneration and sustainable development and tourism policies over nearly a decade and draw conclusions on the challenges still confronting these processes today. In this respect evidence from the research shows that there is generally more divergence than convergence in policy initiatives which encourage tourism development linked to sustainability. This is particularly the case when alternative forms of tourism are considered.

The main conclusion synthesised from the research illustrate that the development of alternative tourism will challenge resourcing and planning activities as such markets look set to grow over the next decade. The paper proposes that developing a framework to ensure the successful implementation of new sustainable tourism markets will make strategic planning an increasingly important priority and a future focus for tourism research in this respect. The emerging and fairly recent concept of ‘cultural regeneration’ and its implications are proposed as a focus for this further research.