TOURISM DESTINATION SATURATION INDEX. A management tool for territorial planning

Abstract

The Tourism Destination Saturation Index (ISDT, for its acronym in Spanish) is an instrument that allows to understand the socio-spatial consequences of touristic activity in a territory, in order to improve its territorial management. It is a tool that allows each local government to visualize those aspects in which it’s necessary to focus management and investment (health services, HSW collection, etc.) to promote its sustainability and therefore wellness, for both residents and visitors. It aims to cement public-private alliances in order to avoid saturation situations, and, incentives industry formalization. At the national level, it improves understanding of the impact of tourism on the territory, which, combined with economic indicators, guides investment and allows prioritization of economic programs for this sector. Three aspects of ISDT are addressed: 1) Conceptual definitions and calculation formula; 2) Discussion of results in different destinations; 3) Roadmapping as a management and integration tool between agents.

Keywords: tourism impacts, socio-spatial consequences, destination management