Butler's life cycle model

A model is a simplification of the real world used to better understand reality.

Professor Richard Butler suggested a model for the life cycle of a tourist destination which has a number of stages:

Image caption,
Stage 1 - Exploration
Few tourist facilities, visited by only a small number of adventurous travellers
Image caption,
Stage 2 - Involvement
Local people start to provide some facilities for tourists. There starts to become a recognised tourist season
Image caption,
Stage 3 - Development
Tourist facilities and accommodation built, the number of tourists increases. The area becomes recognised as a tourist destination
Image caption,
Stage 4 - Consolidation
Tourist facilities and hotels, (often owned by large multinational companies) support large numbers of tourists. Tensions develop between the host population and the tourists
Image caption,
Stage 5 - Stagnation
Tourist numbers peak, large numbers of tourists cause environmental damage, the resort begins to become less fashionable, facilities for the tourists may decline as they become old and run down
Image caption,
(either) Stage 6 - Decline
Tourist numbers decline as they seek new, unspoilt and exciting destinations
Image caption,
(or) Stage 7 - Rejuvenation
Investment, advertising, new facilities and attractions attract new visitors