PROSPECTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM DESTINATION MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS
https://doi.org/10.59982/18294359-26.1-zk-04
Abstract
The article is devoted to the analysis of the DMOs (Destination Management Organizations) concept development within the context of international experience and legislative innovations in Armenia. It presents the evolution of DMOs from marketing functions to an integrated management model, emphasizing the fact that modern DMOs act not only as destination promotion agencies, but also as strategic management entities. These entities ensure the sustainable development of the region by coordinating stakeholder collaboration, infrastructure enhancement, digital integration, and human capital development.
The article analyzes authoritative international sources on the regulation of the tourism destination management organizations activities, including institutional documents from the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the World Bank, as well as the approaches of leading scholars.
Special attention is paid to adapting DMO functions to the local regional context, taking into account the size of the tourism destination, resource potential, funding sources and institutional capacities.
A separate section is dedicated to the changes made in the legislative framework of tourism in Armenia in recent years, in particular the new Law “On Tourism” and the qualification procedure for organizations managing tourism centers. Some provisions of the Tourism Strategic Development Program for 2026–2030 are also analyzed, which are aimed, among other things, at the institutional development of DMOs, the introduction of an efficiency monitoring system, the integration of international standards, and the sustainable development of the tourism management system in Armenia.
Keywords: DMO (Destination Management Organization), tourist destination, tourist center, management model, destination marketing, sustainable development, state policy in the tourism sector.