Tourism Structures

There is not an idea ‘one size fits all’ tourism structure. How each destination chooses to organise its tourism industry is often determined by local factors, including resourcing, industry leadership, the size and importance of tourism to the local economy, and the attitude of local government.

It is unwise to impose a ‘top-down’ tourism model on a region or destination without taking into consideration local attitudes, industry aspirations, resourcing and leadership. A ‘ground-up’ approach is usually preferable, involving the public and private sector in discussion and planning. External assistance from Tourism Victoria, industry professional associations and consultants may be helpful in providing a broader perspective.

The following models show the three most typical structure options for local government involvement in tourism. They are not the only structures, but represent contemporary trends in regional tourism development. Many areas used a modified form of these models to suit their circumstances and to best meet their local needs. Regardless of structures, it is essential that a genuine partnership between local government and the private sector be made a priority. This will only be achieved through strong local and regional tourism associations. Councils reflect the needs and priorities of their ratepayers and so it is important for the business community to continually impress upon their elected representatives the need to actively support the development of the local tourism industry.

Click here to discover a number of tourism industry structure models