Times of the Islands Winter 2023/24

one of the most widely used conceptual frameworks in
tourism research. TALC identifies six or seven predictable
stages that a resort destination goes through regardless
of location. It is worth examining the elements of TALC,
which have held up remarkably well over the decades, to
see where TCI currently fits into the cycle and what to
anticipate.
The first stage is “Exploration.” That is when a place
might see a only few adventurous travelers pass through.
They are not really tourists, but explorers looking for an
unspoiled, untouched paradise.
The second stage is “Involvement.” This transpires
when a destination starts to receive more visitors and
accommodates them with small inns and cafés and may
offer a few local activities.
The third stage is “Development.” More tourist facilities
are built to accommodate the additional tourists
arriving. The place becomes recognized as a tourist destination.
The fourth stage is “Consolidation.” Large multinational
companies move in to build bigger hotels to
support growing numbers of tourists. This is also the
phase when tensions begin to emerge in the host population.
The fifth stage is “Stagnation.” Tourist numbers peak
and environmental damage sets in. The resort destination
becomes less fashionable and some of the hotels become
old and run down.
The sixth stage is “Decline.” That takes place when
the destination loses its luster. Fewer tourists arrive as
they seek new places that are perceived to be more exciting
and still “unspoiled.”
AGILE LE VIN—WWW.VISITTCI.COM
Times of the Islands Winter 2023/24 45