Strategic management of island tourism — the Aran islands

Abstract

Small inhabited islands are attractive places for tourists to visit. Rapid and spontaneous growth in visitor numbers can put a severe strain on the local capacity to absorb such growth. At the same time the economic importance of tourism for islands must be recognized. Tourism is often vitally important in sustaining population. Consequently the issues involved in how to manage tourism are complex. This article looks at the problems of tourism on the Aran islands off the west coast of Ireland. The importance of a strategic management approach to the problems on the island is discussed. Some aspects of this management approach are reported. The analysis suggests that tourism issues should not be divorced from broader questions concerning the thrust and content of overall development, and that it is desirable to have a process that will emphasize and encourage local and informal solutions to problems. Finally, some generalizations to tourism development in rural areas are made.