Perspectives on tourism development planning in Acapulco: conventional methods and complexity theory

AbstractFor more than half a century, physical and rational tourism development plans have attempted to resolve Acapulco’s chronic internal dilemmas, yet the destination continues to deteriorate, thus bringing into question the philosophical foundation of the plans. In order to address this concern, this paper suggests a complexity theory-based approach to planning, as it provides a contrasting perspective from which to consider the functioning of a tourism system. Consequently, Acapulco is perceived as a complex adaptive system, with the case study research method employed as a means to explore several fundamental elements common to such systems. Data are collected by means of semi-structured interviews with key players associated with the industry and through analysis of relevant documentation. The study reveals that complexity theory has shaped the evolution of Acapulco in various ways and continues to influence its direction. The failure of policy-makers to conceive of the destination as a complex, dy...