Comparison between Strategic planning in Bahamas and Spain:This Section of the report attempts to compare the tourism of two countries The Bahamas and Spain. These two countries are different in tourism in many aspects. While The Bahamas is famous for its mass marketing and artificial attractions; Spain is best known for its natural beauty, national heritage, cultures, festivals and the historical architecture. As the tourism attractions differ in the regions, so does the tourism marketing and planning approach of their authorities. Their planning approaches are explained below:

Tourism Planning in Spain:The tremendous rise of tourism in Spain began in the early 1990s due to diversification of supply and spatial dispersion process. The natural beauty and cultural heritage of Spain accelerated the growth of tourism in the country (Vera and Marchena 1998).Since the 1960s tourism boom in Spain, both the demand and supply of hospitality industry has increased (Hall, 1994). The need for a planned tourism development has been rising since then. But for a long time there had been no organized plan for tourism development in Spain (Bote, 1994). Until the early 1990s, there had been little effort given to provide a formalized and centralized planning policy.The evolution of tourism planning policy in Spain can be divided into 5 distinct categories. Indicative Planning (1959-1974) Guiding Plans originated in the Transition Period (19751982) First Regional Plans (19821989) Reaction Plans (19891993) Planning on the basis of Self-directed Laws (from 1994)

Indicative Planning:Indicative planning phase of Spain started in 1959. Although the plans were a start of a new development era for tourism in Spain, they lacked integration. Three plans were provided by the central government between 1964 to 1975. Each of them was for a four year period (Richardson, 1976). The plans were centralized in nature and did not consider the need of local and regional tourism industry. The plans lacked proper town planning and land development and did not have enough infrastructural assistance (De Teran, 1982).

Guiding Plans originated in the Transition Period:

After the oil crisis in 1973, need for a decentralized policy approach increased. The need for land integration policy along with tourism policy was realized. Two types of regional and local plans were introduced by the tourist administration. One for the inland areas where there were fewer resources, another for coastal naturally enriched areas. The plans tried to link the town planning and use of land with the tourism in the country. But the plan failed due to the theoretical nature of the plan. The plan actually did not have any realistic assumptions (Bote and Marchena, 1996).

First Regional Plans: Until 1982, the central administration provided plans for the development of tourism in the country. But with the change of balance of power of the world, the tourism industry had also shifted from rigidness and centralization to liberalization policy. The new policy had lessened the authority of the central administration and began privatization of the industry (Bote and Marchena, 1996; Figuerola, 1993). Thus the first regional planning had started. In 1983, Catalonia made a Libro Blanco (White Book) where the first regional tourism policies were decided by private ownership (Miguelsanz, 1983). In 1987, the Balearic Islands created a Libro Blanco for the newly created tourism department of the Balearic Islands. In the late 80s municipal authority was created to ensure town planning. It was then when Spanish urban regulations were introduced to regulate urban planning (Ezquiaga, 1994).

Reaction Plans:Due to reduction of growth in tourism, State Tourism Administration of Spain introduced White Book of Spanish Tourism where new policies were proposed (Secretara General de Turismo, 1990). Later in 1993 a new Master Competitiveness Plan for Spanish Tourism was introduced (Ministerio de Comercio y Turismo, 1994). In the later parts of this phase, Spain had entered the European Union. The European union perceived Spain as an important tourism spot and new policies were being made where the objectives mainly were to exploit untapped resources and balancing rural and urban tourism (Ivars, 2001).Planning on the basis of Self-directed Laws:After the recession, in late 1990s, the Spanish tourism industry recovered. And with it, the administrative authorities were at their best time. New opportunities were created at this period with creation of demand up to 80%. Creation of autonomous laws increased budget and investment in tourism. In 2003, with the agreement of all political groups, the Guidelines for General and Tourism Planning for the Canary Islands have been approved (Prats, 1995). There is still chance for growth in different parts of Spain. The tourism planning guidelines for Canary Islands has extended the scope for other parts of the country such as Balearic Islands to prepare clear planning guidelines (Rullan, 1999). The planning guidelines and planning models formulated in different regions of Spain has surely paid off. And the data also suggests the same. In 2007, Spain became the second most visited country. Spains potential in tourism has satisfied United Nations to open UNWTOs headquarters there. UNWTO confirmed in 2010 that their tourism GDP was $53 billion which is second highest in the world.