6533b82bfe1ef96bd128d7cd

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Destination Governance at Stake: Fostering Policy Coordination Among Decision-Makers of a Small Town

Vincenzo Vignieri

subject

Planning and DevelopmentDestination Governance; Planning and Development; System Dynamics; Action Research; Interactive Learning Environment; SimulationAction ResearchSmall townbusiness.industryDestination Governance Planning and Development System Dynamics Action Research Interactive Learning Environment SimulationCorporate governance05 social sciencesDevelopmentPublic relationsSystem DynamicsInteractive learning environmentTourism Leisure and Hospitality Management0502 economics and businessInteractive Learning EnvironmentCollaborative governanceBusiness and International ManagementAction researchbusinessSimulation050203 business & management050212 sport leisure & tourismTourismDestination Governance

description

This research aims to foster small-town decision-makers’ awareness of policy coordination as a central issue in either implementing collaborative governance and designing tourism development policies. To this end, a System Dynamics-based Interactive Learning Environment (ILE) has been designed with the intent of challenging decision-makers to increase tourism in the small town, while managing trade-offs among individualistic vs. collaborative behaviour. The action research took place in Castelbuono, a small tourism destination in Sicily (Italy). Three major decision-makers were involved: the mayor of the town, the museum’s director, and a restaurant owner. The use of the ILE has enabled decision-makers to review their mental models and to understand interdependence among their strategies. The action research leads decision-makers to reflect upon the importance of collaborative governance for tourism destination as well as to manage small-town shared resources.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2018-10-23Tourism Planning & Development
https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2018.1537001