Rural regions need tools for developing effective tourism and community plans. This thesis
explores the potential for a simplified gap analysis to serve as a useful tourism planning tool for
rural regions with limited resources. The Cowichan Region in British Columbia, Canada is the
case study for this research, as it is seen to be representative of many rural areas endeavoring to
diversify their waning economies with tourism. The literature review for this thesis reviews rural
challenges facing ruraf areas, rural tourism impacts, rural tourism markets and gap analysis.
A simplified gap analysis compares the preferences of customers (tourists) and the perceptions
that the service providers (host regions) have of these customers. Minimal differences between
these groups' perceptions creates quality experiences for the customers and service providers and
leads to increased profits. This thesis examines the 'gaps' between potential Japanese and
German rural travelers' preferences and the perceptions that Cowichan Region professionals
have of these markets. Data on the preferences of these markets is drawn from research on
Japanese and German pleasure travel markets to North America conducted by national tourism
associations. Data on host region perceptions of these markets is drawn from questionnaire
responses and interviews conducted with tourism and planning professional in the Cowichan
Region.
There are some notable gaps between the characteristics of potential Japanese and German
'rural' travellers and the perceptions that the Cowichan Region professionals have of these
groups. However, overall these groups are well matched as potential rural travellers and host communities. These research findings suggest that rural areas can satisfy most of the needs of
'mass' and 'target' market travellers by developing core tourism products with some specialised
products for sub-markets.
This research indicates that a simplified gap analysis can be a practical and useful rural planning
tool for rural regions that want to diversify their resource based economies with tourism. A ten
step tourism planning strategy is presented as a way for rural areas to integrate a simplified gap
analysis into their planning efforts and create cost-effective and holistic tourism plans.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/9183 |
| Date | 05 1900 |
| Creators | Murphy, Ann Elaine |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Relation | UBC Retrospective Theses Digitization Project [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/retro_theses/] |
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