Tourism Area Life Cycle, Evolutionary Tourism Development and Path Dependence

João Romão ()
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João Romão: Yasuda Women’s University

Chapter Chapter 2 in Economic Geography of Tourism, 2025, pp 23-39 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This chapter explores the evolutionary development of tourism destinations through the lens of the Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC) model and the concept of path dependence from Evolutionary Economic Geography (EEG). The TALC model provides a framework for understanding how tourism destinations evolve from early exploration to potential stagnation and decline, highlighting the varying socio-economic and environmental impacts at different stages. The chapter also discusses the limitations of the model and its applicability to policy and management. Path dependence is introduced as a key factor shaping tourism development, demonstrating how historical trajectories, institutional frameworks and investment decisions constrain or enable future tourism specialization. By integrating EEG concepts such as proximity, variety and innovation, the chapter offers a comprehensive perspective on how tourism destinations evolve within regional economies. Case studies illustrate how path-dependent processes influence resilience, specialization and responses to external shocks, reinforcing the need for place-based policies and adaptive tourism management strategies.

Keywords: Path dependence; Tourism Area Life Cycle; Evolutionary Economic Geography; Emergence; Variety; Agency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:adspcp:978-3-031-88626-3_2

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-88626-3_2

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