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JTMA2371_proof ■ 22 May 2012 ■ 1/12 Tourism Management xxx (2012) 1e12 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Tourism Management journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/tourman 1 56 2 The evolution of mass tourism destinations: New approaches beyond 57 3 58 4 deterministic models in Benidorm (Spain) 59 5 60 6 a,1 b,* b,2 61 Q4 Josep A. Ivars i Baidal , Isabel Rodríguez Sánchez , José Fernando Vera Rebollo 7 62 a 8 Instituto Valenciano de Tecnologías Turísticas (INVAT.TUR) Conselleria de Turismo Paseo Tolls, 2 Benidorm, Spain 63 b Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Turísticas, Universidad de Alicante, Edificio de Institutos, Campus de San Vicente del Raspeig, Ap. 99 E-03080, Spain 9 64 10 65 11 highlights 66 12 67 13 68 < We analyse external and internal dynamics in the evolution of a tourist destination. 14 69 < We make a cross-analysis between global factors and local responses. 15 < The dynamism of mature tourist destinations has an undeniable complexity. 70 16 < Destinations can influence their own future evolution. 71 17 < Long term competitiveness depends on the local adaptation capacity to changes. 72 18 73 19 74 20 article info abstract 75 21 76 22 Article history: Although deterministic models of the evolution of mass tourism coastal resorts predict an almost 77 23 Received 26 November 2011 inevitable decline over time, theoretical frameworks of the evolution and restructuring policies of 78 24 Accepted 29 April 2012 mature destinations should be revised to reflect the complex and dynamic way in which these desti- 79 25 nations evolve and interact with the tourism market and global socio-economic environment. The 80 Keywords: 26 present study examines Benidorm because its urban and tourism model and large-scale tourism supply 81 Life cycle and demand make it one of the most unique destinations on the Mediterranean coast. The investigation 27 Evolution of mature tourist destinations 82 reveals the need to adopt theories and models that are not purely deterministic. The dialectic interplay 28 Restructuring 83 between external factors and the internal factors inherent in this destination simultaneously reveals 29 Internal and external factors 84 Benidorm a complex and diverse stage of maturity and the ability of destinations to create their own future. 30 Ó 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 85 31 86 32 87 33 88 34 89 35 1. Introduction tourism scene. Therefore, this study presented a new approach to 90 36 the evolutionary analysis of coastal resorts that complements 91 37 This paper assesses theories of the life cycle and restructuring of traditional theoretical models. 92 38 tourist destinations in light of the recent evolution of Benidorm, Benidorm is a typical example of the resorts that emerged along 93 39 a paradigmatic coastal destination on the Mediterranean (see the Mediterranean coast in the 1960s during the mass tourism 94 40 Fig. 1), and analyses different phases of its evolution, which reflect boom that catered primarily to foreign tourists through large 95 41 the global factors and local processes that affect tourism. The international tour operators that controlled the market. However, 96 42 investigation revealed that the deterministic nature of Butler’s its unique urban development model is crucial for understanding 97 43 Tourism Area Life Cycle model (Cooper, 2006) and Miossec’s model the dynamics of this holiday resort. Originally a small fishing 98 44 (1977a, 1977b) did not apply to the evolution of Benidorm, which village, Benidorm is the result of a local planning model based on 99 45 has adapted to different market circumstances and possesses a public initiative that was initially approved in 1956 and partially 100 46 features that ensure its competitiveness in the contemporary modified in 1963. Within this framework, the authorities planned 101 47 the categories of land use and buildings and defined growth areas, 102 48 in particular an area of urban expansion adjacent to the Levante 103 49 beach which led to Benidorm’s distinctive image of high-density 104 * Corresponding author. Tel.: þ34 965903726; fax: þ34 965909552. 50 urban development and high-rise buildings. 105 E-mail addresses: [email protected] (J.A. Ivars i Baidal), [email protected] Benidorm is one of the most important tourist destinations on 51 (I.R. Sánchez), [email protected] (J.F. Vera Rebollo). 106 fi 52 1 Tel.: þ34 966870152. the Mediterranean coast. The 2010 census identi ed 74,000 regis- 107 53 2 Tel.: þ34 965903769; fax: þ34 965909552. tered inhabitants, 37% of whom are foreigners. In regulated 108 54 109 e Ó 55 0261-5177/$ see front matter 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 110 doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2012.04.009 Please cite this article in press as: Ivars i Baidal, J. A., et al., The evolution of mass tourism destinations: New approaches beyond deterministic models in Benidorm (Spain), Tourism Management (2012), doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2012.04.009 JTMA2371_proof ■ 22 May 2012 ■ 2/12 2 J.A. Ivars i Baidal et al. / Tourism Management xxx (2012) 1e12 111 176 112 177 113 178 114 179 115 180 116 181 117 182 118 183 119 184 120 185 121 186 122 187 123 188 124 189 125 190 126 191 127 192 128 193 129 194 130 195 131 196 132 197 133 198 134 Fig. 1. Location of Benidorm on the Mediterranean coast. 199 135 200 136 accommodations (hotels, apartments and campsites), Benidorm Analysing the recent evolution of Benidorm is particularly 201 137 provides more than 68,000 beds and there are 18,000 second relevant in light of both structural changes in the tourism market 202 138 homes. Hotels alone annually register approximately 10 million and the current economic crisis. In contrast to tourism models 203 139 overnight stays, with foreign (primarily British) tourists accounting based on urban sprawl, which have resulted in dispersed settle- 204 140 for half of these visits. Throughout its development as a tourist ments in coastal areas (European Environment Agency, 2006), 205 141 destination, this holiday resort has had a high average length of stay Benidorm offers an urban density model that is more environ- 206 142 for tourists and high hotel occupancy rates throughout the year due mentally efficient in regard to energy, water and land use, is less 207 143 to limited seasonality. However, new trends in the tourism market dependent on private transport and is more attractive to tourists 208 144 have raised doubts about the future of this destination. year-round (Iribas, 2000). As a result, it is widely acknowledged as 209 145 The first section of this paper provides a detailed analysis of the a future model for coastal destinations that seek to be holiday hubs 210 146 recent evolution of this destination, the specific local impact of (MVRDV, 2000; Thomson Holidays, 2010). 211 147 external global factors and the internal factors related to the To determine the extent to which contemporary mature desti- 212 148 dynamics of territorial and tourism features that are unique to this nations can evolve into future holiday hubs, it is critical to examine 213 149 destination. The goal of the analysis was to determine the extent to how destinations like Benidorm have addressed issues such as the 214 150 which the recent evolution of this destination was influenced by negative image of a mass tourism destination; dependence on the 215 151 the interaction of external forces or global factors with local British and Spanish market segments; re-intermediation processes 216 152 measures designed to renovate the destination and maintain its in tourism distribution and changes in tour operator processes such 217 153 competitiveness. The second section focuses on the opinions of as online travel agents, internet distribution systems, and dynamic 218 154 local stakeholders who have influenced the evolution of the desti- packaging; changes in consumer preferences and behaviour 219 155 nation and whose actions will largely determine Benidorm’s future.