Successful programs are the result of careful planning, management, and marketing and are built upon an understanding of the tourism system.  This section will help you understand several important topics for building tourism in your community.  They are:

1. Components of tourism
2. Target markets
3. Motivations for travel
4. The Tourism System

Components of Tourism⁷

The three basic elements of tourism are:

1.  Community
2.  Attractions and events
3.  Tourist markets

The first element is at the heart of tourism. It supplies the location in which tourism occurs, leadership and organization for tourism development, public services such as roads and utilities, and hospitality. However, hospitality does not automatically occur however, it is the result of widespread community support for tourism, and training like that found in the Texas Friendly Hospitality program⁷.

Community support for tourism endeavors can be built by involving local residents in the tourism planning process.  Community leaders must be in agreement as to the direction and the degree of change, which results from the expanded tourism base.  The transformation of a community into a tourism destination requires good public relations and educational programs within the community.  Educational seminars, open forums, and public relations efforts should provide all sectors of a community with an understanding of tourism's benefits and costs.  Political, environmental, religious, cultural, ethnic, and other groups within an area can make or break the development of tourism.  Their interests must be considered and their support secured.  Methods and processes for involving residents and other stakeholders are described in Section IV under visioning and strategic planning.  

The second component can be thought of as the tourism’s products. It includes the attractions and events that draw tourists to the community and the businesses that meet their needs.

The third component, tourist markets, consists of visitors who pay for transportation, food, lodging, entertainment, etc.  Unless markets (the consumers) know about the tourism products you have available, they will not travel to your destination.  A community and its surrounding areas must offer tourism attractions and services (products) that are in demand by a travel market.  No amount of promotion will attract disinterested visitors. 

7. Messer, Cynthia 2004. Community Tourism Development:  Tourism Basics, University of Minn. Extension Service
8. Texas Friendly Hospitality - program CD.  Texas Agricultural Extensions Service. Texas A&M University