4. A chaos model of tourism
4.1. Why a new model?
Most of the disparities evident between the reality of how tourism functions and how tourism operates theoretically according to existing models can be accounted for through chaos theory. Acceptance of the idea that tourism operates in a manner more akin to open, living communities, rather than in a machine-like fashion provides a stronger appreciation of the complex interplay between and among members of that community. The living systems analogy further explains the evident self-organising nature of tourism. Strange attractors explain how independent businesses, acting in an independent manner to ensure their own commercial survival, can work toward an apparent common goal. It further explains why symbiotic relationships are formed between businesses that are in fierce competition with each other. A living systems model explains why keystone species are essential to the ongoing viability of a destination area