ABSTRACT
The conceptual framework of the Tourism Area Life-Cycle (TALC) has been frequently examined since first proposed by Butler in 1980. The recently edited two volumes on the model (Butler 2006b, 2006c) further highlight its significance as one of the most used frameworks within tourism studies. Lagiewski (2006), in reviewing previous studies, listed a total of 49 major works related to the TALC. These studies have examined the model at different units of analysis, ranging from a single tourist resource (e.g. Niagara Falls; see Getz 1992) to a destination of varied features (e.g. Lancaster County; see Hovinen 1981, 2002; Canada’s NW Territories; see Keller 1987; the Greater Yellowstone region; see Johnson and Snepenger 1993; and the Smoky Mountain region; see Tooman 1997). In addition, the model has also been applied to differing types of tourism attractions and resources (i.e. islands, costal resorts/beaches, mountainous destinations etc.) and from different perspectives (i.e. the validity and applicability of the TALC; see Agarwal 1997; social, environmental and/or economic changes as they relate to each stage of the model; see Berry 2001; Hovinen 2002; Tooman 1997; and tourism planning; see Getz 1992; Bao and Zhang 2006; etc.). The TALC, as examined in these studies, was generally proven to be a useful framework in explaining the dynamics of tourism development for a resort, although a universal consensus about its validity and applicability has not yet been achieved.
