PLANNING IN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON APPROACHES, MODELS AND APPLICATIONS
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Abstract
Tourism development planning is defined as a strategic process that aims to organise and manage the growth of tourism activities in a given territory. This is achieved by integrating economic development with the conservation of environmental, cultural and social resources. Within this framework, tourism planning is connected to sustainable management of destinations, territorial competitiveness, and coordination among public and private stakeholders. Analytical and technological tools are incorporated to support decision-making. Despite the growing academic interest in this field, the extant literature reveals conceptual and methodological dispersion stemming from the diversity of theoretical approaches, planning models, and institutional contexts from which the phenomenon is analysed. In light of the prevailing circumstances, the objective of this study is to identify and analyse the predominant conceptual approaches, planning models and applications that are extant in the scientific literature pertaining to tourism development planning. A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. This approach facilitated the organisation and rigorous examination of the extant scientific evidence, and provided a basis for reflection on tourism planning as a relational, multidimensional and contextualised process. It was concluded that such planning requires territorial governance, the participation of relevant actors, and the use of analytical tools to promote sustainable and balanced tourist destinations.
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