Planning Better Tourism: The Strategic Importance of Tourist-Resident Expectations and Interactions

This paper examines the strategic significance of the social interaction between residents and international tourists. Contrary to many definitions of the tourist industry it is argued that the contact between people is at the heart of the tourist product. A social interaction continuum for tourism is presented which identifies for modes (Separatism Involuntary Participation, Voluntary Participation and Integration) of Tourism. Each mode is associated with characteristic holiday packages and products. Those types of interaction tourism which involve a high level of interaction with residents require attitudes by residents which favour this interaction. It is therefore necessary to conduct research into the attitudes of residents concerning tourism aid social interaction with tourists. Examples of this kind of research (which was conducted as part of a Strategic Planning project for the tourism industry of New Zealand) are presented together with a discussion of their significance for policy makers. The paper concludes by advocating this approach to tourism planning for other countries which seek to develop a tourism industry which will be both commercially successful and also socially acceptable to residents of the country being visited by international tourists.