The New Frontiers of Destination Management Applying Variable Geometry as a Function-Based Approach

• Published in: Journal of travel research Vol. 53; no. 4; pp. 403 - 417
• Main Authors: Beritelli, Pietro, Bieger, Thomas, Laesser, Christian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-07-2014; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Alternating current; Buildings; Communities; Construction; Dynamical systems; Dynamics; Management; Mathematical analysis; Studies; Tourist attractions; Travel; Switzerland; strategic business areas; variable geometry; destination management; DMO
• ISSN: 0047-2875; 1552-6763
• DOI: 10.1177/0047287513506298

This study challenges the way the research community has approached issues and implemented concepts in the field of destination management. In contrast to previous contributions that deliver a particular framework, this study aims to literally deframe the construct of the destination. To this end, we propose an alternative and dynamic viewpoint for researchers and practitioners that might have evolved decades ago, if the research community had not tried to constrain or reduce the phenomenon of the destination to a comprehensive and inherently static system. We identify the main problems of destination management and attempt to explain the reason for the many failures and shortcomings in practice. Building on an alternative concept, we present its applicability to the case of the currently ongoing reform of the destination management organizations (DMOs) in Switzerland. The study has a conceptual character, although its practical relevance has been proved over the past two years.