PLAN 702 Critical Assessment Of Theories

Key issues addressed in the discussion paper

Tourism is a widespread industry involving the huge amount of challenges and opportunities for the developing countries or states. It is one of the most rapidly expanding sectors leading towards the higher economic growth of the nations.  The interests over tourism among people have increased from past few decades, making the industry more concern over enhancements and development among its sector. The 1st discussion paper is about strategic planning that requires for maintaining the tourism and guide for investment. The paper has provided detail information about changes in approach of marketing, products development and training to the human resources for managing tourism activities (Strategic planning tourism. 2015). In addition to this, the paper has provided detail information about the tourism principles such as private investment in development of new tourism products and supports the traditional culture of local people.      

In addition to this, the 2^nd discussion paper is having data and information about sustainable tourism for development. The paper has defined the scope of tourism potential and factors that could be used for encouraging the acceptance of stakeholders. Moreover, the paper has analyze the factors like economic growth, development of opportunities for employment and poverty reduction, improvement in resource efficiency and mutual understanding to overcome the climate change. According to the paper, the 9.8% of world’s GDP contributed by the tourism and 30% of jobs are generated in this sector (Sustainable tourism for development. 2017). The annual growth of this sector would be 3.3 % by 2030.  In spite of that, the discussion paper has provided the information about key actions related to tourism that involve Reforming policy, consideration of legal and regulatory policy as well as incentivize investment. In order to improve the sustainable tourism development opportunities, it is essential for leading authorities to improve monitoring and actions of vulnerable groups to maintain the sustainable approach.              

Critiques of the structure against the framework of the policy planning cycle 

Concerning the policy planning cycle, it has found that the discussion papers have not followed any specific structure for completing the study. The structure of the 1^st discussion paper follows the stages of background, marketing functions, partnership and leverage as well as the emerging issues in the tourism planning as per policy planning cycle. In spite of that, the 2^nd discussion paper has findings in earlier section and majorly discussed about the factors that have direct in direct contribution in sustainable tourism for development. Moreover,   this paper lacks in completing the cycle to an extent (Xiang and et al, 2017). Apart from that, the 1^st paper had discusses the related issues, opportunities and other related facts about the tourism industry and had made use of sufficient detail out of same.

The structure of these papers moves in a steady manner but do not satisfied the requirements of policy planning cycle. The policy planning framework helps in evaluating the facts in more proficient manner and even allows availing in-depth knowledge and information related to the tourism planning and development (Veal, 2017). However, it has been identified that both the discussion papers have followed the proper structure of acquiring information and facts regarding tourism and sustainable development in the specific areas by considering the principles and marketing investment. It is very important for a discussion paper to include important facts related to the topic so that to establish a connection with the information and topic and make the readers gain the better understanding.  

Sufficiency for relevant stakeholders in the discussion paper

Stakeholders are the most important aspects of any industry and could not be overlooked by anyone. There are various stakeholders of the tourism industry that are impacted by the opportunities and issues or challenges within the industry. The discussion papers are having the information about sustainable development in tourism industry includes sufficient concerns of stakeholders and thus requires having information related to the same. The 1^st discussion paper is having formal information about stakeholders like private sectors, government authorities, marketing agencies and nearby population. These are having significant contribution in planning and investment for tourism development. The initiatives of stakeholders are having positive impact on effective utilization of sources to implement the plan.    

It involves the adequate information useful for the stakeholders concerning the tourism industry and even specifies their roles in the industry (Jemal, 2017). The content of the discussion paper 2nd is sufficiently useful for the stakeholders and could even be used for their further studies in the sustainable development for tourism. The 1^st paper has provided limited information about the stakeholder and their related fact.  Sustainable development in the tourism industry is a widespread concern and had to be more precise and relevant to the relevant stakeholders. Thus, the content of 2nd paper includes more sufficient and relevant information about stakeholders as compared to the 1st paper.

Comparison of discussion papers regarding structure, quality and effectiveness

By comparing both the discussion paper, it can be considered that the papers include the sufficient amount of useful facts and information related to their concerned topics. As per my observation, focusing over the quality of paper, the 1st paper includes the fair amount of information related to the topic of strategic planning and implementation to achieve the goals and objectives but lacks in establishing an in-depth understanding of the same. Apart from that, the 2nd paper is been carried out in an understandable manner that is easy to understand and have sufficient data to gain the understanding about the sustainable development for tourism (Yin, 2017). The quality of the 1st discussion paper is higher than the other and reflects more specific information and data related to the tourism industry and supported by the numerical data.

The major weakness of 1st paper is the complex language which could not influence each and every individual and might lead to disinterest in the readers.  In accordance to the effectiveness, the 2nd paper is more effective to the target audience as it reflects understandable content which might lead to gain more interest among the target audiences and lay more effectiveness among the same (Yüksel, 2017). The discussion papers concerning the sustainable development in tourism industry target the audience such as concerned stakeholders, scholars, researchers and other interested readers seeking to gain more knowledge out of the similar topics.  However, the quality of both papers is high and offering the relevant information about their chosen topic to meet the objectives of the study.   

Reflection 

The comparative analysis of discussion papers related to Strategic planning and Sustainable Development for Tourism has helped me to understand the factors and issues that are considered for managing the process and approach of tourism in current scenario. I have gained the information about critical environmental elements like the proper assessment of areas for planning the tourism activities and effective utilization of natural resources. The study has also helped to increase the knowledge about various functions related to the sustainable distribution of economic benefits and maintain the social welfare approach to prevent the environment. The environmental tourism is helpful for increasing the numbers of visitors and support to improve the business opportunities for local populations.

By completing the comparative analysis of discussion papers related to strategic planning and sustainable development for tourism, I have learned to use professional academic writing skills. The selection of authentic information and consideration of data which is relevant to study will help me in future studies. Apart from that, analysis of key information to compare the study will also support to maintain the ethical and process to improve the flow of own study. However, I am concern about writing but I have to craft improvement in the selection of studies and proper management of time. I am also lacking in decision making to choose the appropriate information to present in the study that increases the reliability and validity of the research.

References

Jemal, A., 2017. Critical consciousness: A critique and critical analysis of the literature. The Urban Review, 49(4), pp.602-626.

Veal, A.J., 2017. Research methods for leisure and tourism. Pearson UK.

Xiang, Z., Du, Q., Ma, Y. and Fan, W., 2017. A comparative analysis of major online review platforms: Implications for social media analytics in hospitality and tourism. Tourism Management, 58, pp.51-65.

Yin, R.K., 2017. Case study research and applications: Design and methods. Sage publications.

Yüksel, A., 2017. A critique of “Response Bias” in the tourism, travel and hospitality research. Tourism Management, 59, pp.376-384.

Online:

Strategic planning tourism. 2015  [online] Available at: < https://www.iti.gov.nt.ca/sites/iti/files/Tourism2015IndustryConsultationPaper.pdf >[Accessed 10 Aug. 2018].

Sustainable tourism for development. 2017 [online] Available at: < https://cf.cdn.unwto.org/sites/all/files/pdf/iy2017_discussion_paper_executive_summary_en.pdf >[Accessed 10 Aug. 2018].