Consequential Tourism: How destinations grapple with over tourism and other environmental, social, political, and security repercussions

Thesis Defence
Consequential Tourism: How destinations grapple with over tourism and other environmental, social, political, and security repercussions

Corey Andrew Hancock, PhD candidate in the Global Executive Ph.D., will publicly defend his thesis in Management Sciences.

17 September 2024
17.00 p.m. (CET - GMT+1)
ESCP Business School Madrid Campus

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Abstract

The objective of this dissertation is to analyze “Consequential Tourism” from a variety of perspectives. This study is relevant to national governments, tourism authorities, destination management organizations, hotels, transportation companies, business trade groups, employee labor unions, and to tourists themselves. As tourism represents a significant portion of export revenue for many markets around the world, national and local government entities must devise, enact, and ultimately implement a carefully-calculated mix of regulations to ensure that their destination continually appeals to the changing preferences of holidaymakers.

The first research paper expands upon a theoretical framework from Mckinsey and Company and applies it to Key West, Florida, USA. The framework, entitled “Coping with Success: Managing Overcrowding in Tourism Destinations” was published in December 2017. The paper uses their model to find that Key West should encourage diversification of economic activities, incentivize offseason travel, market tourist attractions away from the downtown area, promote tourism to other destinations in the Florida Keys, implement meaningful fines for water pollution, and reduce the number of cruiseships that call on Key West.

The second research paper analyzes the impact that cruise tourism has on the environment, economy, and on society/politics. It concludes that governments should require cruiseliners to spend a longer duration on land, require the use of shore power when ships are not at sea, and encourage civil society organizations to collaborate with their counterparts in other destinations to share lessons learned and mutually strengthen the organizations.

The third research paper uses quantitative methods and descriptive statistics to show the impact that crime and violence can have on tourism. It concludes that Mexico remains an attractive destination for American tourists. It finds that, despite well-documented security concerns, the current security situation has not reduced American demand for Mexican holidays, and that Mexico should diversify tourism nationalities beyond the US.

Jury