"Travelling -- it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller." ~ Ibn Battuta

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What steps are necessary for destination selection? 

Tourism agencies generally agree that travellers follow a similar travel purchase cycle. They need to understand this cycle in order to capitalize on the revenue potential. The illustration at the right shows that while this is an ongoing continuum, the main steps include the following: 

1. Dream List ~ travellers think about going to a destination in the future.
2. Consideration List ~ serious consideration is given to visiting a particular destination within the next two years.
3. Gather Information ~ The potential traveller starts to collect information from friends, Internet, articles, and brochures.
4. Plan Itinerary ~ The specific details of the trip itinerary are created.
5. Finalize Travel Arrangements ~ The big ticket items for the trip of finalized, eg., transportation, accommodations.
6. Individualize ~ Customizations of the trip are determined, eg., tours, excursions.
7. Book and Purchase ~ The traveller commits to the trip and destination as it is booked and paid for.
8. On the Fly ~ While on the trip, adaptations are made. Typically this is from recommendations from other travellers or changes based on positive and negative experiences while at the destination. 
9. Awareness ~ After the trip is completed, the travelers have received a deeper awareness. They now become a resource for other travelers either through on-line reviews, word of mouth, or survey responses.