Tourism Planning Post Disaster:Community Perceptions of Tourism Development

The purpose of this paper is to determine how a community undergoing disaster recovery perceives tourism development. This study utilizes qualitative and quantitative methods to capture the meanings, perspectives and attitudes of residents, stakeholders and Government. The results of the qualitative component are presented. This exploratory research contributes to the body of knowledge regarding tourism planning and development, particularly as it relates to the reemergence of a community's tourism industry following a disaster.   Findings indicate that the context and timing of a destination under recovery require additional consideration. Ultimately, creating social capital is essential for the community planning process and requires participation beyond the typical seven steps of tourism planning model.