The Butler Model

The 6 Stages 1) Exploration: A small number of tourists, new location, exotic adventurous travel, minimal impact. 2) Involvement: If tourists are accepted and if tourism is acceptable, the destinations become better known. These are improvements in the tourist infrastructure. Some local involvement in tourism may begin.

The 6 Stages 3) Development: Inward investment takes place. Tourism becomes a big business. Firms from MEDC’s control, manage, and organise tourism, leading to more package tours, more holidays, and less local involvement. 4) Consolidation: Tourism becomes an important industry in an area or region. It involves not just the provision of facilities but also marketing and advertising. Former agricultural land is used for hotels. Facilities such as beaches and hotel swimming pools may become reserved for tourists. Resentment begins and there is a decelerating growth rate.

The 6 Stages 5) Stagnation: There is increased local opposition to tourism and an awareness of the problems it creates. Fewer tourists arrive. 6) Decline: The area decreases in popularity. International operators move out and local involvement may resume. Local operators may be underfunded; hence there is a decline in tourism. It is possible for the industry to be rejuvenated, as in U.K. coastal resorts in the 1990’s.

The Butler Stage Model 4 5 3 6 Growth of tourism 2 1 time Match the descriptions to the stages. It is difficult to get to your hotel from the airport due to poor quality roads. The local fishermen get better prices for their seafood. The bars and clubs stay open until 4am. Some souvenir shops start to close down. New airports are built. The sea becomes too polluted to be used for swimming. Rare species are no longer found in the area. The local government has to find new water supplies due to the increased demand. People move to the area to work in the construction industry.

Activity Using A2 Geography P284-287, answer the following… Explain the meaning of the 6 stages used in the Butler model. How does the French Riviera fit the model? Explain. Describe and give reasons for the French Riviera’s changes over time. How does figure 7.40 show tourist growth in the area?