An Advisory Decision Support System for the Identification and Evaluation of Destination Rejuvenation Strategies

In this paper we discuss the implementation of the 'tourism area life cycle' (TALC) as an advisory decision support system (DSS). The DSS is designed to assist destination managers (and other stakeholders) to determine: i) just where they might be within the TALC cycle; ii) to determine appropriate rejuvenation strategies if this is deemed necessary; and iii) to evaluate possible impacts of these strategies through a powerful (holistic) systems-based simulator. The paper is, essentially, conceptual in nature. An initial prototype has been developed and subjected to some preliminary systems testing. Detailed field-testing is scheduled for early 2011, in Phuket, Thailand and will take place with the assistance of Thai tourism authorities.