CHAPTER 8

TOURISM FACILITY DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

1) Importance of establishing standards

2) Site planning considerations
- By avoiding environmental hazards
- Building relationship
- Maintaining views
3) Site development standards
- Type of development standards
- Establishing development standards
4) Design considerations
- Architectural/ Landscaping/ Engineering Designs
5) Tourist facility quality standards
- Accommodation and Restaurants
- Tour & Travel operations

Importance of Establishing Standards

Development and design standards for tourist facilities, such as hotels, resorts and visitor
facilities at attraction features apply to building location and configuration, architecture,
landscaping and engineering and quality assurance levels.
These standards should be set forth as a part of national or regional plan.
Standards influence the satisfaction level of visitors and overall environment quality of
residents.
Standards should establish the physical framework or parameters of design, within which
there is considerable flexibility allowed to the planner/ designer to apply his creativity
and imagination.

Site Planning Considerations

“Site planning” refers to the specific location (or setting) of buildings and related development
forms on the land, and consider the functions of the building their physical inter-relationship and
characteristics of the Natural environment setting. Site planning includes location of roads,
parking areas, landscaped areas and footpaths, all of which are integrated with the building
locations.

Avoiding Environmental Hazards:

One basic consideration of site planning is that buildings are not located and designed in such a
manner that environmental hazards may result. E.g. flooding, land slippage, property damage
drainage problem in low-lying areas, earthquakes, high winds, rainfall or seismic waves

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Building Relationships:
The grouping of buildings such as accommodation is an important concern of site planning. The
type of grouping selected depends on the density and character of development desired. E.g. In
the hotel central facility complex of the lobby, reception desk, main restaurant shops and
recreation facilities should be within relatively close walking distance of all guest rooms or in a
large low density resort complex, some form of transportation such as small electric carts
provided. Alternate grouping of accommodation in resorts/hotels.
1) Solitary units--Building constrained by the landscape – extremely private. It is used in park
like setting for family groups.
2) Streets--More “urban” situation appropriates to beach or lakefront increases the opportunity
for social interaction
3) Clusters--Also for “urban” or city situation
4) Row of five units
5) Row of six units
6) Row of ten units clusters
7) Courtyard grouping
8) Linear Arrangements
9) Maintaining Views

Another important consideration especially in resort development is maintenance of view or at

least view corridors towards the amenity features, such as a beach, lake, scenery, of the site. The
location and height of buildings should be controlled so that view planes of distant features such
as mountains are maintained. In a natural setting, it is important to integrate the buildings into the
environment as well as provide views.

Site Development Standards

Types of Development standards
There are several types of specific standards, which should be applied to the controlled
development of tourist facilities. These development standards typically include the following:
1) Density of development
2) Heights of buildings
3) A setback of buildings from amenity features roads, lot lines and other buildings.
4) Ratio of the building floor area to the site area
5) Coverage of the site by building and other structures
6) Parking requirements
7) Other requirements such as for landscaping open space and public access to amenity features

Establishing Development Standards

The exact requirement for each standard will vary depending on the type of tourism development
and environmental situation, although there is generally an accepted range of requirements for
each of the various types of development. These standards are as follows:

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Unit densities: In tourism density refers to the numbers of accommodation units per acre or
hectare, and the density determines to a great extent the overall character of the development.

Building Heights:
The maximum allowable height of buildings greatly influences the development character
because of the obvious visibility of higher buildings. If a very natural site appearance were
desired, then the building would be limited to one or two stories. If the natural environment is to
remain dominant but a higher density or more compact development is wanted, four stories
maximum height may be established (this height is still usually below the tops of large trees).
Taller building will create a more urban character of development.

Building Set Back:

The “set back” or distance required, of main building from the amenity features /roads / the site
boundaries and other buildings are important to maintain a sense of openness and sufficient
space for landscaping, privacy of buildings occupants and in some cases for safety reasons.
Adequate setbacks from the beaches are particularly important for several reasons:
 Protection of /building from damage that may result from beach erosion and high waves
 Maintenance of natural appearance
 Allowance of adequate space for public access and recreational use by tourists.
 Privacy of guests using accommodation or residents near the beach

Floor Area Ratio:

The floor area ratio is also a measurement of the intensity of development, and refers to the ratio
between the total floor area of the development such as a hotel, and the total site area. It is
calculated by dividing the gross floor area by the area of he site and expressed as a percentage.

Site Coverage:
The coverage of the site by building and structures, also indicated as a percentage, is an
important control on the amount of open space in the development. In a low to medium density
resort, the site coverage by building should be limited to about 25%, to allow for sufficient open
space and generous landscaping.

Off Street Parking:

Provision should be made for off street parking sufficient for all vehicles in any tourism
development, so those streets are not congested with parked vehicle.

Public Access:
Adequate public access should be provided to amenity features and public facilities such as
beach and cultural centres.
Landscaping: Landscaping should be developed for scenic views, parking space, utility
buildings etc

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Underground Utility Lines:
Overhead electricity and telephone lines and their supporting poles are unattractive elements of
any environment including tourism areas. Although, a very high voltage lines are difficult to
place underground, the lower voltage distribution lines, telephone cables can be economically
underground to maintain scenic views and low maintenance cost.

Sign Controls:
Large, unattractive and inappropriately located signs can greatly detract from the appearance of
any area. Sign controls standards should be established with respect to type, location, size, and
material used and lighting of signs. The Time Square in New York and Ginza in Tokyo have
bright, flashing advertising signs.

Design Considerations
 Architectural design consideration
 Landscaping design consideration
 Engineering design consideration

Architectural design consideration:

For hotels and other tourist facilities must be flexible than development considerations to allow
for the creativity of the architect
1. Local styles and “Motifs”: If there are local, traditional or historical architectural styles,
these should be incorporated into the design where possible, so that tourist facilities fit into
the local environment and reinforce the architectural character of the area.
2. Roof lines: The design of roofs (Flat, pitched, over hang etc.) is critical design element and
should reflect local architectural style and the natural environment.
3. Local building material: To the extent possible it should relate to the local architectural
styles as is often the case with wood, brick or stone construction. Also the use of local
materials may be less expensive and provides income and employment to the residents of the
area.
4. Environmental relationship: Building design should relate to the natural environment and
should also take advantage of any views from the site such as lobbies, verandas, courtyard
etc.

Landscape Design Consideration

Landscape architecture is concerned with the relationship and appearance of the total
environment, with particular reference to plants and landscaping features such as water bodies,
footpaths and outdoor furniture and lighting.

Engineering Design Considerations

It should be established to ensure that minimum standards are met in Tourism development
areas. These engineering design considerations include:

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 Roads:
Various categories of roads are established based on projected traffic usage, and their
respective road width and related drainage ways, walkways, and landscaping areas
determined. Cross sections of these various roadways are drawn to illustrate the road
standards including depth and types.
 Drainage
 Water supply
 Electric power
 Sewage disposal
 Solid waste disposal
 Tele communication
 Building construction standards
 Sanitation standards
 Other types of Engineering design standards for e.g. Ski lift and Cable car system, which
require specific standards especially as related to safety factors.
Typically, the country or region establishes general engineering design standards and then each
tourism development area will need to adapt these to the local situation, but always with the
minimum standards set at the national or regional level.

Tourist Facility Quality Standards

It includes quality levels of service established at national or regional levels. These particularly
include standards for accommodation, restaurants and tour and travel services.

Accommodation & Restaurants

Minimum standards can be established for hotels and other types of accommodation based for
e.g. on size of rooms, provision of additional facilities and other factors such as public health and
sanitation.
 Unlicensed hotels should not being allowed to operate and minimum standards for hotel
licensing should be established.
 Hotel classification should be established
 Independent restaurant standards are more difficult to apply beyond the minimum level of
sanitation standards being met.

Tour & Travel Operations

These should meet minimum standards of maintaining a qualified staff and being financially
responsible.
 A licensing procedure should be applied to ensure that minimum standards are met.
 Tour guides should also be licensed
 Any tour agency having tour buses, cars, and other vehicles should ensure that these should
be efficient, comfortable and in safe conditions.
 Accreditation by other international or regional agencies should be promoted to maintain the
authenticity and reliability in delivering services.

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