Destination Development and
Institutionalization Strategies
In the OIC Member Countries
43
Step 5: Activation Destination management organizations must validate products leveraging
feasibility assessments to determine market conditions, legislation, and investment
requirements. Activation of destination wide products and services include the
launch of full service attractions and including convention centers, festivals, and
nature tours (etc.) leveraged to attract visitors. Once products are validated, strong
marketing processes are outlined.
Source: DinarStandard Analysis
3.1 Step 1 - Identifying Core Tourism Resources
Tourist destinations need to possess core resources, underpinning a destination’s unique value
proposition, supplemented by supporting resources, and a strong supporting environment to appeal to
tourists. Core resources are segmented into natural and cultural resources that are essential to
destinations. In addition to the core resources, destinations also manage supporting resources which
include activities available at the destination, linkages to the destination, accessibility, tourism
infrastructures and the tourism supra structure.
Classifying Core Resources
Classification is an essential first step in understanding the scope and nature of core resources, and how
they differ across destinations. To a large extent, core resources are endowed in a destination and cannot
directly be developed, notably physiography, climate, culture and history. However, where product
development plays a role is in creating a tourism proposition centered around resources.161 Natural and
cultural resources are two core resource types identified in the model of destination competitiveness and
sustainability developed by Ritchie and Crouch (2003). The core resource types were also emphasized by
Mihalic (2013). Mihalic identifies 11 resources that mention natural and cultural as core environmental
resource types.162
Figure 13: Classifying Core Tourism Resources163
Source: DinarStandard Analysis; Ritchie and Crouch (2012)
161 Ritchie, J.R. & Crouch, G. I. (2010). A Model of Destination Competitiveness/Sustainability: Brazilian Perspectives. Brazilian Public
Administration Review 44(5):1049-66
162 Mihalic, T. (2013). Performance of Environmental Resources of a Tourist Destination: Concept and Application. Journal of Travel
Research, 52(5) 614–630.
163 Developed based on information from the model of destination competitiveness/sustainability developed by Richie and Crouch.
Tourism Resources
Natural Resources
Activities
Tourism Supra-structure
Accessibility
Infrastructure
Facilitating Resources/Services
Community Support
Linkages
Supporting Environment
Types
Resources
Tourism
Impact
Lifecycle
Cultural Resources
Supporting Resources
Core Resources