The tourist area life cycle: s application to the spanish Costa del Sol and its environment

Abstract

The Theory of a Tourism Area Life Cycle, formulated by Richard W. Butler, has seven phases of evolution, which are applied to the tourism destination. In this concept, the location is treated as if it were a living organism. That is to say, it is born, it flourishes, if it develops an illness, it may die or in accordance with its particular reality it may be reborn. This theory may also stipulate the sustainability of a tourism destination, as its carrying capacity, or multiple capacities, may only be analyzed within its position in the cycle. This is the first time the theory has been applied to the Spanish Costa del Sol and it is determined, that this destination does not fit completely in any one phase. Therefore, it is necessary to create its own series, by designating it, as that of “pre-stagnation”. Also, it is concluded, that, at present, given the distortion between its aquatic environmental carrying capacity, due to the consumption of this resource, by the golf courses and its consequential negative social carrying capacity, it is an unsustainable tourism destination. Though, it does have the capacity to overcome this situation, by recycling the water used for irrigating these courses.