In the years following 1950, the success story of alpine tourism began. Since that time, tourist demand has steadily increased, and despite initial signs of stagnation, its significance has continued to grow in recent decades. However, alpine tourism aims not only at purely economic goals but also at regional and socio-political objectives. For this reason, the decision-making process and interaction among tourism policy actors are of sustainable importance. Expectations for tourism are becoming increasingly complex, and the understanding of tourism policy has also changed. This work examines the extent to which tourism policy influences the destination life cycle and how the development of destinations is governed by this influence. The theoretical insights gained are illustrated through empirical data from the city of Innsbruck.