This subject check list covers the second of the 5 main
subjects from the Master Check List - Components
of the Ideal Master Planned Beach Resort Destination. These
subject check lists are by no means comprehensive, but more like a shopping
list with brief explanations as reminders.
This check list series actually goes hand in hand with an earlier series
I posted on Integrated
Master Planning for Destination Development. This check list would actually be similar to
some of the outlines for the phases of Environmental
/ Site Analysis and Market
Analysis in
the Integrated Master Planning methodology.
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| Koh Samui Airport |
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| Access to a local town is so valuable in providing supporting goods and services. |
Accessibility is crucial to the success of any Beach Resort
Destination. Accessibility not only goes
for getting tourist to the destination, but also means getting goods and
services to the destination. If your
toilet needs to be repaired and it takes a day before you can get the parts or
if it take 2 days fill a shortage of eggs for your restaurant, you can imagine
the cost of doing business will not be cheap!
If all manpower needs to be imported and further more once they arrive
they have a miserable life because there is nothing to do and they cannot get
anywhere, the turnover rate is going to be high and hence training cost will go
up with that. On top of this the premium
for employees pay will definitely eat into any potential profits. These are
some of the hidden cost of accessibility and proximity beyond the ease of
getting visitors to your destination.
Accessibility can always be created, but at a cost. If the project itself has to absorb all the
cost to make it highly accessible, then financial viability may be questionable. Moving in a population to support a
destination is also possible, but it too is costly and takes time for the
population to develop roots and be willing to stay for good.
A.
ACCESS
/ PROXIMITY
No.
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Aspects
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Features
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Implications
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1.
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Local
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Villages
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Located within 30 minutes to the destination can become a source for
employees and also a source for tours if there are any unique features,
customs, lifestyle, etc.
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Towns
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Ideally somehow a continuation of the Beach Resort Destination. Place where support supplies, services, etc.
can be found. Also place to experience
real local lifestyle.
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Seaport
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Maybe international port or local port to connect to neighboring
areas that are not easily accessible by car.
This can be as support or as tourist attractions.
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Industry / Economy
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Local industries / economies add additional dimensions to the
sustainability. The destination
becomes an attractive living location for other industries.
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2.
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Regional
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Major City
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Located within 1.5 hrs. to a major city can provide day trips, repeat
customers, good week end traffic, MICE markets and good twinning for business
and pleasure.
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Regional Cities
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Located less than 3 hrs. good for long weekends and ideal for budget airlines.
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Border Towns
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Good source for international travelers especially with alternative
holiday seasons.
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Domestic Regional Airport
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Good for the regional travels both domestic and international within
3 hrs. for weekends and beyond. If
destination is developed and completed within 5 hrs. possible for short
holidays.
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3.
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International
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International Airport
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Located within an hour form the resort, ideally less than 30 minutes,
but in a location where noise is not a negative factor. Should be able to handle 3 to 5 million
arrivals annually.
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Long Haul Cities Access
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Direct access to major source markets for long haul tourists when
product is suitable for 10 day stay or longer.
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Visa Policy
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Visa free is the best, at least visa on arrival for major source
markets. For short stays visa cost
should be nominal. Long stay visa is a
plus for retirees.
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Link to other parts of the series:
Master Planned Beach Resort Destination Checklist
Part 1 –
Overview
Part 2 –
Natural EnvironmentPart 3 – Access / Proximity
Part 4 – Development Products
Part 5 – Supporting Infrastructure and Services
Part 6 – Destination Management
Jiwa Studio, Singapore
April 2012
This is an excellent series of posts on an important case of development.
ReplyDeleteNigel Cartlidge
(from Linkedin Urban Design Network discussion)
I am from Puerto Rico in the Caribbean and have seen many Resort Developments. We Urban Planner sometime forget to talk about the access of the community to the beach itself. My experience that security guards from resort tend to put restrictions in all sort of community activities and even banning the local community from the beach itself.
ReplyDeleteAlexis Soto-Colorado
(from Linkedin IAP Group)
Alexis
DeleteYour point is a valid point. This really has to be a government policy in the master planning such that beach front is accesible to all! I personally believe it is essential. Some of the most active beaches in the world only exist because of full public accessibility. Some governments zone beaches as similar to National Parks where there is a right of access to anyone and access cannot be blocked. Good point. Unfortunately my topic of accessibility was to the destination not to the beach itself.