INTRODUCING TOURISM INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT LIFECYCLE MODEL: PRODUCTIVITY SPILLOVERS AS ESSENTIAL CRITERIA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

摘要

Foreign multinational hotel and host government are mutually dependent in developing host tourism destination. International chain hotels possess competitive advantages that are highly desirable in developing a tourism destination. Ranging from its international brand recognition to technology know-how, these characteristics, no doubt, bring many benefits to the host industry. Welcoming their presence in the local industry is a widely used strategy by host governments to close the technology gap and access new markets. However, this study addresses the prominent negativity of pro-long foreign involvement, which is over dependent on foreign resources. The consequences of over-dependence are of core concern among academics and host destination country authorities. This study intends to introduce a development life-cycle model to assist countries in selecting industrial development policies that is conducive for tourism development. Often than not, countries faces the dilemma between liberalisation and controls. The lifecycle model introduced, with great influenced of the concept of productivity spillovers and sustainability, will help indicate the development level of a destination and, thus, suggest appropriate policy measure to help sustaining and facilitating continuous development. There are five levels within the lifecycle model, each represented by a set of industrial characteristics. The model can be examined with empirical data to support its practicality. This has been proven in a separate study by the authors, in employing econometrics technique of structural equation modelling, to help indicate the development level of a destination. Specifically, the econometrics model measures the interactions between foreign and local hotels to indicate the two types of productivity spillovers; contagion effect and competition effect. Arguments are then build around five industrial development attributes; monetary capital, human resources capital, industrial linkages, competitiveness of local firms and destination equity. In conclusion, this study introduced a model that offer practical guidance to local destination policy makers and, more importantly, extended the concept of sustainable tourism development. The strength of the model lies upon its ability to provide objective empirical evidence as opposes to subjective experts opinions to the level of development. Thus, offering specific policy measures as to the degree of controls and liberalisation.