Comparison between Strategic planning in Bahamas and Spain:

This Section of the report attempts to compare the tourism of two countries The
Bahamas and Spain. These two countries are different in tourism in many aspects.
While The Bahamas is famous for its mass marketing and artificial attractions; Spain is
best known for its natural beauty, national heritage, cultures, festivals and the historical
architecture. As the tourism attractions differ in the regions, so does the tourism
marketing and planning approach of their authorities. Their planning approaches are
explained below:

Tourism Planning in Spain:

The tremendous rise of tourism in Spain began in the early 1990s due to diversification
of supply and spatial dispersion process. The natural beauty and cultural heritage of
Spain accelerated the growth of tourism in the country (Vera and Marchena 1998).
Since the 1960s tourism boom in Spain, both the demand and supply of hospitality
industry has increased (Hall, 1994). The need for a planned tourism development has
been rising since then. But for a long time there had been no organized plan for tourism
development in Spain (Bote, 1994). Until the early 1990s, there had been little effort
given to provide a formalized and centralized planning policy.
The evolution of tourism planning policy in Spain can be divided into 5 distinct
categories.

Indicative Planning (1959-1974)

Guiding Plans originated in the Transition Period (19751982)
First Regional Plans (19821989)
Reaction Plans (19891993)
Planning on the basis of Self-directed Laws (from 1994)

Indicative Planning:
Indicative planning phase of Spain started in 1959. Although the plans were a start of a
new development era for tourism in Spain, they lacked integration. Three plans were

provided by the central government between 1964 to 1975. Each of them was for a four
year period (Richardson, 1976). The plans were centralized in nature and did not
consider the need of local and regional tourism industry. The plans lacked proper town
planning and land development and did not have enough infrastructural assistance (De
Teran, 1982).
Guiding Plans originated in the Transition Period:
After the oil crisis in 1973, need for a decentralized policy approach increased. The
need for land integration policy along with tourism policy was realized. Two types of
regional and local plans were introduced by the tourist administration. One for the inland
areas where there were fewer resources, another for coastal naturally enriched areas.
The plans tried to link the town planning and use of land with the tourism in the country.
But the plan failed due to the theoretical nature of the plan. The plan actually did not
have any realistic assumptions (Bote and Marchena, 1996).
First Regional Plans:
Until 1982, the central administration provided plans for the development of tourism in
the country. But with the change of balance of power of the world, the tourism industry
had also shifted from rigidness and centralization to liberalization policy. The new policy
had lessened the authority of the central administration and began privatization of the
industry (Bote and Marchena, 1996; Figuerola, 1993).
Thus the first regional planning had started. In 1983, Catalonia made a Libro Blanco
(White Book) where the first regional tourism policies were decided by private
ownership (Miguelsanz, 1983). In 1987, the Balearic Islands created a Libro Blanco for
the newly created tourism department of the Balearic Islands. In the late 80s municipal
authority was created to ensure town planning. It was then when Spanish urban
regulations were introduced to regulate urban planning (Ezquiaga, 1994).

Reaction Plans:

Due to reduction of growth in tourism, State Tourism Administration of Spain introduced

White Book of Spanish Tourism where new policies were proposed (Secretara
General de Turismo, 1990). Later in 1993 a new Master Competitiveness Plan for
Spanish Tourism was introduced (Ministerio de Comercio y Turismo, 1994). In the later
parts of this phase, Spain had entered the European Union. The European union
perceived Spain as an important tourism spot and new policies were being made where
the objectives mainly were to exploit untapped resources and balancing rural and urban
tourism (Ivars, 2001).
Planning on the basis of Self-directed Laws:
After the recession, in late 1990s, the Spanish tourism industry recovered. And with it,
the administrative authorities were at their best time. New opportunities were created at
this period with creation of demand up to 80%. Creation of autonomous laws increased
budget and investment in tourism. In 2003, with the agreement of all political groups, the
Guidelines for General and Tourism Planning for the Canary Islands have been
approved (Prats, 1995). There is still chance for growth in different parts of Spain. The
tourism planning guidelines for Canary Islands has extended the scope for other parts
of the country such as Balearic Islands to prepare clear planning guidelines (Rullan,
1999).
The planning guidelines and planning models formulated in different regions of Spain
has surely paid off. And the data also suggests the same. In 2007, Spain became the
second most visited country. Spains potential in tourism has satisfied United Nations to
open UNWTOs headquarters there. UNWTO confirmed in 2010 that their tourism GDP
was $53 billion which is second highest in the world.