Destination Management

A tourism destination arises when there is a system of organisations that collaborate to offer tourism services. Creation, animation and long-lasting prosperity of this system of organisations is usually associated to the appointment of a Destination Management Organization (DMO), which is a public or not-for-profit entity legitimized to take care of the marketing and managing of the destination. The main role of a DMO is to act as development catalyst for the visitor economy, striving to achieve a balanced destination development. In order to play this role DMOs have to attain multiple functions, including: marketing, promotion, and development of the destination image; converting potential visitors into actual visitors; implementation of programs and services that enhance the visitor experience; and providing assistance to tourism operators. In the fiercely competitive environment of tourism, DMOs have to change their business model to adapt to new market realities and create value