The role of clusters in preventing tourism decline: a conceptual and empirical examination

Abstract

In this paper we investigate a perennial issue in tourism policy, planning and research: how mature destinations can deal with the problem of stagnation and potential decline. The paper first examines the most influential model of tourism development: the tourist area life cycle model, indicating some of its strengths and limitations. We then discuss Michael Porter's concept of clusters, in order to assess how it might assist tourism policy-makers and planners to prevent tourism decline. We go on to compare the formation of tourism clusters in the two most important "sun and surf" destinations in the Oceanic tourism market – Queensland and Hawaii. The paper concludes by illustrating strategies for achieving effective tourism clusters and the prevention of decline in mature destinations.