Restructuring in tourism: the accommodation sector in a major British coastal resort

This paper examines the restructuring of tourist accommodation in a major British coastal resort through a case study of Torbay, Devon. The extent and nature of restructuring is established through an examination of business failures, conversions to alternative uses and investment in new facilities. The motivations and influences on the decision-making underpinning the restructuring process are related to competitive and defensive strategies adopted by the owners and managers of accommodation businesses. A small core of businesses have apparently made no discernible response to the pressures of restructuring, and it is argued that the existence of such inertia represents a significant issue for studies of the longer term development and realignment of resort economies.