Tourism policy — between competitiveness and sustainability: The case of Bruges Available to Purchase

Tourism policy is a generic term with many interpretations. For too long time tourism policy has been identified with promotion of the public sector. Nowadays the content is much more embracing. The first section of this contribution briefly describes the evolution in this content and deal with the present meaning that is given to tourism policy. “Competitiveness” and “sustainability” are the the two key terms in the modern view. The situation of Bruges with respect to those two core notions is the central theme of this contribution. For the analysis of competitiveness the Porter approach is an interesting instrument. This leads to the strenghts and weaknesses of Bruges with respect of competitiveness. Sustainability was always a major element in the tourism policy of Bruges.