Chapter 11 Urban Tourism

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Chapter 11Urban Tourism
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BROAD Challenges

• Is there an Urban Tourism?
• Beyond activity at a place
• Is it a motive?
• Tourism Urban Regeneration
• Baltimore and San Antonio!
• Objectives often not met
• Demand and Supply Shift
• A crowded Place market
• Many have become interchangeable

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Key Issues

• Demand
• Who is an Urban Tourist?
• Supply
• Activity and Leisure settings
• Marketing
• Selling, Branding Image
• Policy, Planning Management
• Who does what, when, where and how?
• Impacts (economic, social, cultural, etc.)

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Strategies for Regeneration

• Event-led (i.e., festivals)
• Attraction-led (dvlp. Critical mass)
• Business-led (conferences/meetings)
• Culture (promoting local essence)
• Leisure-based (shopping, sports, cinema)

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Regeneration (sub-issues)

• Social Exclusion
• Nothing for those who need it most!
• Contestation of Space
• Some seek change, others will fight it!
• Resource Allocation
• Opportunity costs might be high!
• Community Involvement
• Big decisions might not be made locally!
• Political Environment
• Causes regional, state/national issues!

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A Framework for Managing
Political Environment
Economic Environment
Socio-Cultural Environ.
Resource Allocation
Community Participation
Space Contestation
Tourism Development Strategy
Marketing The city
Product Development
Infrastructure Development
Visitor Management
Urban Tourism Experience
Monitoring of Tourists Residents Views
Change in City Function/form
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Causes of Urban Homogeneity

• Serial Reproduction
• One place is successful, others mimic
• few distinguishing features
• Poor Marketing
• Images showcased are not unique
• What is Texas unique image?
• International/National Alliances
• Shared expertise replication
• One message vs. Multiple unique ones!
• territory (somewhereness) vs. Place
  (anywhereness)