Tourism and Public Policy

• Author: Lemos Baptista J.M. - Pocinho M. - Nechita F.
• Position: Atlantic Association for Scientific Research - University of Madeira - Transilvania University of Brasov
• Pages: 77-86

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşo v

Series V: Economic Sciences • Vol. 12 (61) No. 1 – 2019

https://doi.org/10.31926/but.es.2019.12.61.1.11

TOURISM AND PUBLIC POLICY

J.M. LEMOS BAPTISTA1 M. POCINHO2 F. NECHITA3

Abstract: This paper addresses the connection between tourism and public

policies fro m a descriptive and secondary data analysis perspective, aiming

to contribute to a deeper reflection on issues of tourism in terms of concepts

and statement of policies that should be adopted in various tourist areas.

This article intends to deepen the various concepts of tourism and to address

the public policies that should be adopted in tourist regions or countries,

referring to the importance of public policies in the territories that have their

main economic and social activity in the tourism sector. The reference to

tourism as a development factor is based on evidence for the effectiveness of

the sector for job creation and enormous potential for the recovery of

disadvantaged areas. Some considerations about tourism policies in Portugal

are presented.

Keywords: tourism, development, public policy and tourism policy

1. Introduction

The sector of travel and tourism is considered one of the largest and most diverse

economic activities in the world. Tourism is one of the world’s major industries,

attracting many economic benefits to destination regions (Webster and Ivanov, 2014).

As tourism is a proactive activity which retains sustainable development for the future, it

is seen by ma ny governm ents as a great opportunity for economic development and a

tool for buildi ng a more prosperous community. Tourism is an activity that has a

multiplying effect capable of promoting the indirect dev elopment of other sectors,

namely in the economic, social, territorial and patrimonial areas. It is a sector that is

characterized by a process of adjustment a nd continuous transformation of the

territories, although conditioned by the conjectural situations of risk, as well as by the

high application and use of sophisticated too ls and by changes in the behaviour patterns

of potential tourists. In many societies tourism is seen as the primary sector of its

economy, with a very significant weight in the Gross Domestic Product, and therefore, it

is the largest employer of the active population of these tourist territories.

For these reasons and evidence, tourism can play a key role in the development of

1 Atlantic Association for Scientific Research

2 University of Madeira

3 Transilvania University of Braşov, florin.nechita@unitbv.ro