Application of the destination life cycle concept in managing urban tourism: Case of Poznan, Poland

Abstract

The paper discusses the operational potential of the destination life cycle (DLC) concept with reference to tourism planning and management in urban destinations under conditions of risk resulted from the shortage of extensive and reliable information and data on a destination’s appearance. The DLC of the city of Poznan (Poland) is examined. The aim of the investigation is to identify symptoms of decline, in the framework of the life-cycle concepts proposed by Butler (1980); van der Borg (1991) and Russo (2002). The analysis of secondary data sources and a questionnaire survey among local tourism experts were conducted to assess the threat of Poznan’s tourism decline. Results show that Poznan’s tourism is currently in the development stage, nonetheless the risk of a decline is moderate. The main and most detrimental symptoms of a possible crisis are the result of an insufficiently developed tourist offer and problems relating to managing tourism on a municipal level.