| This paper examines the different aspects of the tourism destination by investigating the relationship between local government authorities, destination management organizations, and destination auditors. It aims to describe the particular role of the destination audit, while acknowledging that destination management is an important component of tourism destination. A case study approach is adopted based on an Italian destination named Abruzzo Region. The analysis of this tourism destination has highlighted how some Italian tourism destinations are interpreting the destination audit concept to create specific organizations that are called “Osservatorio Turistico Regionale”. The first findings of this research suggest that the destination growth is influenced by different levels of complexity. The complexity is related to the large number of players, the influences between different sectors, the stakeholder relationship dynamics, and the interactions between different levels of governance. In this regard, the Osservatorio Turistico Regionale can represent a good tool for a comprehensive, systematic, and periodic data-elaboration in addition to reducing the tourism’s complexity. |