Tourism exists as a powerful economic force in the development
of both community-based and global markets. Today, its activities
comprise the world|s largest industry with over three trillion dollars
in revenues produced (Clegg 1994). Despite its economic significance,
debate continues as to whether or not tourism truly benefits all entities
involved in its system. At a most basic level, two schools of thought
exist regarding its role in community and/or market development
(Lea 1988). The political economy view posits tourism as an exploitative
force which {{emanates from the desire of affluent middle classes
in metropolitan countries|| (Lea 1988). This somewhat fatalistic view
suggests that residents of a destination have little, if any, voice in the
developmental process of the tourism function and, as a result, can
only react to its consequences on their home environment. Indeed,
the industry is often criticized for its rather {{imposed|| planning
decisions on the local population from outside groups or planning
bodies (Keogh 1990).
Alternatively, the functional view approaches tourism as a proactive
force which, if developed appropriately, seeks to maximize positive
returns to a community|s overall growth while minimizing the costs
to the environment and culture. A functional approach suggests that
all parties*or stakeholders*interested in or affected by this business
within a particular market or community should collectively manage
the tourism system. This co-operative approach toward its development
is advocated in research involving collaboration and development
(Keogh 1990). Jamal and Getz define these collaborative
efforts as {{a process of joint decision-making among autonomous, key
stakeholders of an inter-organizational, community tourism domain
[designed] to resolve planning problems of the domain and/or to
manage issues related to the planning and development of the
domain|| (1995:188). The purpose of this article is to extend this
research base by conceptualizing how multiple stakeholder interests
can be managed in tourism development and planning processes.