Government and Tourism

Citation

Ingram, H. (2002), "Government and Tourism", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 14 No. 4, pp. 197-198. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijchm.2002.14.4.197.2

David Jeffries is a well‐respected and experienced consultant in the tourism area. His experiences in tourism since 1955 enable him to comment in an informed way on the role of government in tourism, particularly in the UK. Jeffries contends that the main body of literature on the subject focuses either on tourism legislation or policy directions, arguing that official tourism organizations represent only a small part of total involvement in, and impact on, tourism. The target market for this self‐styled “introductory” text is lobbyists, researchers, travel writers and especially students on undergraduate and postgraduate tourism courses. The book is arranged in four parts: general scenario, policy issues, recent trends in a selection of countries, regions and localities, and finally, conclusions.

Part 1 contains five chapters that explore, in an even‐handed way, the case for and against tourism. Patrick Roper adds a chapter that sets out the views of doubters and sceptics of the value and effects of tourism. Subsequently, the language and concepts of tourism are explored in two interesting chapters that are supplemented at the beginning of the book by a useful glossary of terms. Even for seasoned travellers it is necessary to speak the language! In Part 2, seven chapters are devoted to examining policy issues, beginning with a history of legislation since the 1960s; here the big question is asked about why and how governments should intervene. Despite the extent of the intervention, whether passive or active, most government action affects tourism directly and indirectly. For example, the “intrinsic character of tourism” is heavy public investment in transport or the provision of leisure and recreation facilities. The point is well made that effective tourism relies upon co‐operation, not only within host communities, but internationally too. Such is the complexity and multidisciplinary nature of tourism that there is demand for interorganizational relationships, co‐ordination and hierarchy. Potential controversial issues such as seasonal, geographical and spatial redistribution are tackled, using examples from around the world to demonstrate the tourism impacts on opening up new regions. Although no firm conclusions are offered, Jeffries suggests that the effects of change in the strategic balance are likely to cause confrontations between public and private sectors. For example, some private sector firms may seek to retain their established markets. Part 3 provides three chapters detailing recent trends in countries (USA, France and UK), regions (European Union, Région Transmarche and southeast England) and localities (Kent, Rocky Mountains and Montana). These descriptive case studies offer a rich source of information from which general lessons can be drawn.

The fourth and final part recapitulates upon the main themes and contains the author’s personal reflections. Jeffries concludes that the involvement of the state in tourism is inevitable and indispensable, and this demands that the ever‐growing impacts of tourism be managed. Such an approach requires the engagement of both public and private sectors in, for example, improving planning co‐ordination at national levels, where it is currently weak. There has been too much concentration on marketing the destination, but tourism really needs to “invest more in a fuller understanding of its complex requirement and impacts”.

In summary, Jeffries has produced a readable and useful book drawn from his wide experiences in tourism. The price of £35 might deter some impoverished students from buying it, but there is much valuable information and comment. Tourism is too important a subject to be ignored.