General Systems Theory And Tourism

GENERAL SYSTEMS THEORY AND TOURISM The first thing we have to know is that one of the leaders of this theoretical field was biologist Ludwig Von Bertalanffy. According to him, a system can be defined as a complex of elements that stand in interaction. However, some experts argue that this general systems theory is not holistic. Bertalanffy realized that he had to go beyond biology and integrate knowledge from other sciences to better understand living things. Bertalanffy postulated a theory with categories of thought that could be applied in different sciences. Bertanlanffy asserted that every living organism is essentially an open system because it maintains a continuous flow of inflow and outflow. Bertanlanffy's basic idea can be used in various types of systems including tourism systems. but there are advantages and disadvantages to studying tourism according to this theory. One of the first tourism analyzes using Bertalanffy's theory was made by Raymundo Cuervo (1967). In the book El Turismo como Medio de Comunicación Humana. Neil Leiper, the most famous author of tourism systems at the international level, proposed a model consisting of five elements, including three geographic elements: (i) the traveler-generating region (origin or environment where travelers usually stay); (ii) transit areas connecting origin to destination; and (iii) tourist destination areas. Advantages Disadvantages By creating a model (conceptual design), one has a 'whole' picture of tourism. Although separating the tourist system from other systems facilitates the study, it also leads to a fragmented view of the object of study. parts and study them separately When separating tourism into a system, it is important to remember that tourism is part of a larger system, such as a social system. interdisciplinary study of tourism. Advantages Disadvantages By creating a model (conceptual design), one has a 'whole' picture of tourism. Although separating the tourist system from other systems facilitates the study, it also leads to a fragmented view of the object of study. parts and study them separately When separating tourism into a system, it is important to remember that tourism is part of a larger system, such as a social system. interdisciplinary study of tourism. The possibility of using the model at any scale or level of generalization, from local analysis to entire sectors in global scope. The flexibility of the model, which allows not only the integration of different forms of tourism but also the consideration of the five basic elements of tourism, described above. This model also shows an important principle of tourism studies: the relationships between different elements. Sergio Molina Superstructure: public and private sector organizations; laws, regulations, plans, and programs. Demand: tourists living within the country and abroad Infrastructure: airports, roads, water supply network, sewerage, telephone, etc. Attractions: natural and cultural. Although it became widely known throughout Latin America in the 1990s, Molina's (1991) system has proven to be too simple because it does not explain the basics of systems theory or its negative aspects. In addition, the internal organization of the system and the relationships between its elements are unclear presenting the tourism system as an open system (Fig. 3) that can influence and be influenced by other systems that interact with it. This system consists of three devices: 1. Environmental relations, which consist of cultural, social, ecological and economic subsystems. 2. Structural organization, which consists of superstructure and infrastructure subsystems. 3. Operational actions, which contain the dynamics of the tourism system. They include supply, market, demand, production, distribution, and consumption subsystems. Professor Mario Carlos Beni (Beni) In addition to these academics, many others have applied general systems theory in their tourism studies, including Roberto C. Boullón (1985), Donald Getz (1986), Alberto Sessa (1983, 1985) and Jost Krippendorf (1985). One pioneering but little-known approach was presented by Hunziker (1943): Analyze tourism as part of a system. The systemic view applied to tourism is not without criticism, most often directed at systems theory in general. For example, systemic models offer some explanation of how tourism works but cannot deepen knowledge of the facts important for a comprehensive understanding. Several questions about the tourism system remain open. For example, what logic exists between system components? How do system attributes affect its operation? How is a social system functional? How can the system's energy input and output be measured? If they cannot be measured, can they be analyzed quantitatively? How can the tourism system be separated from its environment?