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In this article current stakeholder collaboration in tourism development was investigated in the area Veerse Meer, a lake area situated in the southwest of the Netherlands. Since four local public organizations are involved in its development as well as multiple private stakeholders, it presents an interesting case to analyze options for collaboration. Through interviews and a discussion group with stakeholder representatives the research indicates that, despite an awareness of the importance of collaboration in tourism planning, collaboration is not seen as an effective strategy for the tourism development process in Veerse Meer. Different viewpoints, as well as the missing “sense of urgency,” are seen as major constraints for collaboration.

The organizing theme of the 7th International Coastal and Marine Tourism Congress was “Planning, Designing, and Managing the Destination.” This editorial begins with a commentary on how “destination” has been conceptualized and defined over the last several decades in the multidisciplinary tourism literature. Six articles presented at CMT '12 are introduced in this special double issue. Taken together they illustrate a variety of research questions and results bearing on the condition and future of coastal and marine tourism destinations.