Understanding the tourism host-guest encounter in New Zealand: Foundations for adaptive planning and management

Abstract

This book provides a unique perspective on tourism planning and management. It makes its case by building a comprehensive picture of tourism development based on an examination of four key tourist destinations in New contemporary national and global tourism planning contexts. Our focus on local destination area evolution shows our commitment to examining tourism where it is most palpable: at the level of encounter between hosts and guests. To frame our research we have built a new model to take account of visitor flow dynamics; and the economic, environmental and social interactions that significantly shape both ‘hosts’ and ‘guests’ experiences of tourism. In turn, destination area evolution, while grounded in local histories, geographies and politics, is also influenced by broader national goals and legislative tools. The pathway to sustainable tourism recognises the necessity for participation processes to ensure locally-responsive, adaptive tourism management that local aspirations with national development objectives.