The Butler tourist resort cycle-life model. By the end of the lesson you will know what the Butler model is and be able to explain what it shows.

How did Blackpool go from hero to, almost, zero in 100 years?

So, what is the Butler Model?

The model has six stages to it. The sixth stage has two options attached; decline or rejuvenation. So, what does each of the six parts mean?

Exploration You initially get a small number of tourists attracted to something in particular, like beaches, attractive landscape, historical or cultural features. The locals who live there have not yet developed many tourist facilities.

Involvement The local people in the area start to see the opportunities available and provide accommodation, food, transport, guides and other services that tourists may use.

Development Large companies will build hotels and leisure complex’s and advertise holiday packages. Tourist numbers rise dramatically. Job opportunities increase for locals which bring many advantages and disadvantages.

Consolidation Tourism is now a major part of the local economy, but possible at the expense of other developments to the location. Numbers of visitors is much more steady and so employment has become more secure. However, some hotels and other facilities are becoming degraded, so the type of customer goes downmarket. Rowdiness becomes an issue in the destination.

Stagnation The destination becomes unfashionable and so the number of visitors declines. Businesses begin to change hands and often fall.

Decline or rejuvenation Declines: visitors begin to prefer other resorts. Day trippers and weekenders become the main source of income. Rejuvenation: attempts are made to modernise the resort and attract different people.

Activity 1 – The Butler Model. In your books stick in the copy of the Butler Model that you have been given. Underneath make notes as to what each of the six stages entail.

Activity 2 – The Living Time Graph. Each of you have been given a handout with the Butler Model on it and a number of statements attached. Each statement has a number. Your task is to decide where each of those statements fits into the Butler Model. You have 15 minutes to complete the task.

Plenary. Peer coaching. EVERYONE! Write down one thing you have learnt this lesson and write down on thing you have not understood this lesson. Now, lets see if we can help people to understand what they do they get?

Butler’s model of the evolution of tourism A simplified version of Butler’s model of the evolution of tourism: Do you believe this is true for all holiday destinations?

The evolution of tourism

Examination question In stage 2 what changes may occur in the landscape of a tourist area? List two problems that may occur in stage 4. Describe how the growth of tourism may change over time.