The Objective Tree In Tourism Planning

This article reviews the use of an objective tree to formulate a tourism master plan. The objective tree was used to avoid previously experienced problems associated with ill-defined objectives, namely, a mass of irrelevant data being gathered, lacunae in crucial planning information, uncoordinated research activity of the various sectoral study teams involved, and difficulties in evaluating the success of the plan formulation process. The procedure for constructing the objective tree is presented and the difficulties involved are highlighted. Such difficulties include sustaining logical thinking and confusing means with sub-objectives. Although the technique has some limitations, the advantages are felt to outweigh these. The results of the exercise can befed into other planning and manage ment techniques. The objective tree has wide application in the field of tourism planning and management.