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The consolidation stage is characterised by a decline in the growth rate of visitor arrivals and other tourism-related activity, although the actual amount of activity continues to increase. According to Butler, the total number of visitors (presumably in a one-year period) exceeds the resident population. Of paramount importance in this stage is the fact that the level of tourism development begins to exceed the environmental, social and economic carrying capacities of the destination, thereby bringing about the overall deterioration of the tourism product and the aforementioned deceleration of the growth rate. During consolidation, crowded, high-density tourism districts are dominated by a psychocentric clientele who rely largely on package tour arrangements affiliated with large tour operators and hotel chains. The destination is wholly integrated into large-scale, globalised tourism systems, and tourism dominates the economy of the area. Attractions are largely specialised recreational sites of a contrived, generic nature, and these tend to overwhelm any natural or cultural attractions that previously formed the basis for the destination's popularity. In addition, seasonalitv emerges as a major impediment for the destination's economy, and costly measures must be implemented to counter this imbalance in the supply/demand equation. Because of seasonality, product deterioration and reduced visitor intakes, turnover in hotel and restaurant ownership is extremely high, with many facilities being abandoned altogether due to a lack of interest in redevelopment. Much of this will be dtie to transnational companies that 'abandon" the destination to seek the greener pastures alluded to by Christaller (see page 316).
It is in the consolidation stage that the local 'breaking' point is reached, with some residents becoming blatantly antagonistic towards tourists, while others become resigned to the situation and either' continue to go aboirt their business or leave the area altogether. As predicted by Doxey, the residents blame tourism for all problems, whether' the blame is justified or not. As negative encounters with the local residents and local tourism product increase, word-of-mouth exchange of information contributes to the reduced visitor intakes.
The Surfers Paradise district of the Gold Coast is perhaps the best Australian example of consolidation stage dynamics, while international examples include pleasure periphery resort areas along the French and Spanish Rivieras, in Florida and the Bahamas, and in the Waikiki area of Honolulu.
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