2.

Purpose of study:

The purpose of this project is to develop a tourism plan and policy for the La Brea Pitch Lake
visitor facility. Also, to develop our knowledge on the different theories used in the tourism
planning and policy development course and apply the approaches learnt, to the development of
the visitor facility at the La Brea Pitch Lake. Information was gathered for this project through
reading of relevant material, namely Tourism planning - an integrated and a sustainable
development approach by Inskeep, E. (1991). A site visit to the La Brea Pitch Lake visitor
facility and its surrounding environment was also conducted, as well as in-depth interviews with
community members and tour guides at the facility.

In developing this site, a mixture of the economic industry-oriented and community-oriented

approaches should be adopted as each approach has ways to contribute to the sustainability of the
site and environs and by extension the country. These approaches were chosen because they can
assist in the development of the site and present opportunities for increased revenue for the
country as well as, provide employment opportunities for locals.
Economic-industry approach:
This approach is associated with economic impact statements and feasibility studies. This
approach views tourism as a means to create employment, earn foreign revenue and improve
terms of trade (Mifsud). Marketing and promotion can be used to attract most economically
beneficial visitors. Implementing an economic-industry approach places emphasis on the
economic impacts of tourism and the most efficient use to create income and employment.
Tourism is seen as an industry which can be used as a tool by governments to achieve certain
goals of economic growth and development. The La Brea Pitch Lake is viewed as the largest in
the world. It can generate great amounts of revenue for the country if promoted and developed
correctly. The facility attracts foreign markets such as Germany and Europe which can generate
foreign tourism revenue for the country. Including additional attractions that can complement the
Pitch Lake will encourage tourist expenditure. Foreign tourism revenue means that more income
and more jobs can be created within the industry and within the community. By developing the
tourism facility it can create a number of employment opportunities for locals as
government/TDC can contract or source their resources for this project internal and thus
resulting in the achievement of one of the objectives for this site development. One of objective
noted in TDCs project objective is To increase commercial opportunities with regard to craft
and dry goods. By sourcing items from local suppliers to either construct the expansion of the
new facility, employing more tour guides or using local craft makers to supply the traditional
crafts that can be used in a souvenir corner at the facility, as well as contracting locals of small
proprietor shops to promote local foods. Although economic benefits are good, consideration
must still be given to both the pros and cons of this approach. A limitation to this approach is that
there is a shift in the external economic environment such as negligence of other sectors in terms
of development. For example; that government can place more emphasis on developing tourism

rather than equally developing other sectors of the economy such as agriculture or health. It is
also noted that these economic goals are given priority over social and ecological issues.