Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present the garbage can model’s explicatory value in illustrating decisions for change in Swiss destinations. Design/methodology/approach - Comparative case studies were elaborated for four Swiss tourist cantons (Berne, Grisons, Ticino, Valais) based on project reports and secondary sources including key informant interviews. Findings - The paper provides insights about perceived problems, available solutions and participants in the researched tourist destinations at the time the choice was taken to establish destination structures. The garbage can model is a useful tool to analyze change in destinations. It explains why and how decisions in complex environments are established, why seemingly rational choices are not taken or taken too late, and it allows including stakeholders and particularly public intervention in public-private partnership structures. Originality/value - The paper brings a new perspective in change management research for the tourism industry as it applies a model which has been derived from the public administration theory.