What makes a successful tourism destination?

Reynolds Boateng (Host): Founder and CEO at Boateng Travel | Natalie Rushton (Guest Speaker): Lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality at University of Wolverhampton.

What makes a successful tourism destination?

Reynolds Boateng (Host): Founder and CEO at Boateng Travel | Natalie Rushton (Guest Speaker): Lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality at...

Jul 01 2025

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Episode Description

Reynolds Boateng (Host): Founder and CEO at Boateng Travel | Natalie Rushton (Guest Speaker): Lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality at University of Wolverhampton.

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Podcast takes

What is tourism destination success – DMOs Podcast Takes

The goal of sustainable tourism, also known as responsible tourism, is to minimise negative impacts and maximise the positive social, economic, and environmental impacts of tourism on destination communities and environments, promoting ethical travel practices, (Saarinen, 2014, p.2). Destinations management organisation (DMOs) can however achieve success in a destination when there is collaboration between stakeholders. Without collaboration and a collective approach to meet tourists needs at a destination, such destination is unsuccessful.

What is tourism destination success – Tourist Podcast Takes

As a tourist, don’t just pick a destination for your holidays because everyone else is going there or you came across the destination on social media. To deicide, always consider the following factors:

• Accessibility: What is the transportation system there? How easy can you get to places at the destination? Do you have to walk or use public transport? Ask these questions and research about the destination.
•  Local culture and experiences: what is there at the destination to do when visited?
• Read reviews.

Is over tourism a destination success? – Tourist Podcast Takes

Mass tourism (people) visiting a destination is not a sign of success rather, it’s a red flag that ‘’popularity has outpaced planning’’. In other words, don’t be persuaded by the mass of people to decide on a particular destination for your holiday. When local people are complaining about over tourism or overcrowding, is a sign of lack of planning for tourists.

Is over tourism a destination success? – DMOs Podcast Takes

DMOs must not only be persuaded by batch of numbers they are bringing into a destination but also ensure that there’s enough room for the visitors at the destination. The positive impact of people visiting a destination is always glorious, but its negative impact on local people does not tick tourism sustainability box.

Over tourism and destination success - Travel agents.

As a travel agent, your role to reduce over tourism at destinations is crucial. For example, instead of selling destinations with issues of over tourism, have you considered selling holiday packages of other destinations with no over tourism issues but successful as well? Do you also take time to educate tourists about the local people expectations? Perhaps destination tourism regeneration could be another strategic way you can engage tourists into local people affairs.

Destination sustainability – DMOs Podcast Takes

Destination sustainability is current strategic selling tool to attract tourists. The question however is, as a DMO are you creating tourism model that is environmentally responsible as a DMO? Are your destination plans going to preserve resources for future generations? What about local people, are they happy with your decisions?  Economically, what are the values are you creating at your destinations? These some of the key questions that DMOs need to answer to achieve destination sustainability to attract visitors.

Destination sustainability – Travel agents Podcast Takes

Moving people to their dream land from home as an agent must also abide on the law of destination success. Although selling holiday packages (all inclusive) for example could be one approach to educate tourists about their visiting destination sustainability policies. 

Priorities on local people and tourists – DMOs Podcast Takes

Tourists are money generator for a destination but local people on the other hand are destination owners. This means, to think about money, think also about the needs  of the owners at your destination. For DMOs to create balance between local people and tourists, they must engage local people in decisions making, educate visitors about destination culture and promote respectful behaviour through diverse marketing techniques such as campaign, storytelling, posters etc.

Priorities on local people - Tourists podcast takes.

Always support local people businesses rather than large firms at a destination as a tourist.

Tourists tax – Government, DMOs Podcast Takes

Not all tourists are happy paying tourism tax at a destination, but if DMOs can explain to tourists the purpose of the fee is for reinvestment in the destination for example, this can help clarifies tourists doubts. On the other hand, explaining the purpose of the tourism fee isn’t enough, but the government must also ensure to deliver the promise for both the locals and tourists. Delivering your promise will also create room to attract more tourists.

What does destination success mean for me as a tourist?

This is optional for tourists since everybody is different, but as mentioned above its important for tourist to always look out for destination successful factors because of their basic needs. You can’t visit a destination without having access to good transport system for example.

You can personally do your own research but it’s also essential to look-up the destination at:  https://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/travel-abroad or use tourism board of the destination, either on national or local level. If you want to visit UK, use Britain tourism board to gather info at: www.visitbritain.com.

Source:

Saarinen, J. (2014). Critical sustainability: Setting the limits to growth and responsibility in tourism. Sustainability, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/su6010001

Abashidze, I. (2024) 'Destination branding for gaining a competitive edge in the global tourism landscape: Insights and prospects of the Georgian case', Innovative Economics and Management, Vol 11 No3.2024, pp. 47-58. Available at: https://doi.org/10.46361/2449-2604.11.3.2024.47-58

Fyall, A., Garrod, B., Wang, Y.  (2012) 'Destination collaboration: A critical review of theoretical approaches to a multi-dimensional phenomenon', Journal of Destination Marketing & Management , 1 (2012), pp. 10-26. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2012.10.002