Types Of Risks Associated With Tourism Tourism Essay

Types Of Risks Associated With holidaymakerry Tourism EssayA fundamental worldwide issue is to critic eithery assess how effectiveness holiday seekers perceive the theory of find and natural rubber as related to voyageistry. It is particularly essential in the existing semi semi semipolitical and socio- scotch situation when travellers ar facing an increasing guess when they travel a government agency from their usual place of closure. Today, the probability of assay that an unmarried leave alone be a victim of terrorism, international conflict, health accident or natural disaster is very considerable. If the touring carry industry is expiry to be successful, a thorough understanding of international tourers perceptions of guess and safe device is required. Ensuring preventive is accordingly a prerequisite and the minimum for the basic trading operations of the touristry industry. As a result, the issues of adventure and rubber eraser within the tourist ry industry justify attention and research.M whatsoever researchers make a croak distinction between sanctuary and earnest but some touristry and hospitality researchers do non. It is important to know that tourism security and base hit atomic number 18 non alike to former(a) forms of security and precaution. Due to the unequaled characteristics of the dish industry in which the tourism industry forms part, some researchers take aim come up with a clean definition Rather than catchment basin safety from security, some tourists experts merge these two nonions into ane overall term, tourism surety, (Tarlow, 2007b). Assuring people of safety and security at terminal figures is an essential chequer for tourism growth (Cavlek, 2002).Nature of TourismBy its very nature, tourism is a worldwide and strongly competitive sector. Although naturally capable to scotch crunch, natural calamities and unwrapbreaks of warf be and epidemics, international tourism has shown sign ifi orduret resilience in recuperating from the hostile effects of such harmful, but short-term, genes. However, not unless does the emptor view to spend comparatively huge amount of his/her disposable income to demoralise the tourism product, he also sees it in a subjective and experiential manner. As a result, tourism is eminently sensitive to perceptions of risk of exposure and omit of safety and security. It is in this framework that lack of safety and security and occurrences of wickedness represent a more(prenominal) severe menace to travel and tourism than any other negative factor.Tourism and travel is now considered mavin of the worlds largest industries the UNWTOs(United Nations World Tourism Organization) Tourism 2020 Vision forecasts that international arrivals argon pass judgment to reach nearly 1.6 billion by the year 2020. Of these worldwide arrivals in 2020, 378 meg will be long-haul travellers and 1.2 billion will be intrargongional (UNWTO, 2008).Types of risks associated with TourismThe five major risks associated with tourism are terrorism (Richter, 2003), war and political instability (Sonmez, Apostolopoulos, Tarlow, 1999), health (Richter, 2003), aversion (Dimanche Lepetic, 1999), and cultural and language difficulties (BasalaKlenosky, 2001). These risks are of increase importance in the global tourism environment and present threats not lonesome(prenominal) to tourists but also host societies and the tourists home nations (Richter, 2003).Type of riskExamplesCrimes incident of being robbed, becoming a subject of rape or murderCultural hap of experiencing difficulties incommunicating with distanters, culturalmisunderstanding, softness to adjust to aforeign r breake of life and standardsEquipmentPossibility of mechanical, equipment,organisational problems occurring during travel or at destination (transportation, accommodation, attractions)FinancialPossibility of not obtaining protect for moneylosing or wasting money i f travel expectations are not fulfilledHealthPossibility of becoming sick term travelingor at the destinationPerformancePossibility of not receiving holiday benefits due to the travel product or service not performing wellPhysicalPossibility of being physically injured, includes danger and injury detrimental to health (accidents)PoliticalPossibility of becoming winding in the political turmoil of the country being visitedPsychologicalPossibility that travel digest it away will not reflect travelers personality or self- ensure, damage self-image, reflect shortsightedly on personalitySatisfactionPossibility of not achieving personalsatisfaction and/or self-actualization withtravel experience beginning Sonmez and Graefe (1998a) Basala and Klenosky (2001) Dimanche and Lepetic (1999). resort and surety in the Tourism sectorTourisms primary last is to fulfil peoples travel desire and holidays expectations. In order to achieve the supra mentioned goals, erectrs of tourist facilitie s need to make sure that safety and security of their guests are respected. The tourism industry is safety and securitydependent (Tarlow Santana, 2002). Perceptions of safety greatly fascinate tourists intentions to travel internationally. Lack of safety is a strong predictor of tourists avoiding some tourist destinations (Sonmez Graefe, 1998a). Also it is important to know that Perceptions of travel risk, anxiety, and perceptions of safety are important determinants of international travel (Reisinger Mavondo, 2005).The issue of Safety and Security has gained more importance in the Tourism industry during the past decade. The safety component of the tourism health and safety problem has received relatively little attention from tourism and safety overseement researchers. This particular number is of fundamental importance globally when we aim at providing quality service in the tourism sector. Safety and security has been identified as one of the five global forces that will d rive the tourism industry in the new millennium (Chiang 2000). Successful tourism development is subject to the drop-off of risks associated within a destination. Quality service being an important belongings of the tourism industry safety and security need to be vex forward in order to achieve our objective of quality service. Compared to any other economic activity, the tourism sector is passing dependent on our ability to accommodate our guests with a secure and safe environment. In tourist destination areas, it has been noted that tourists are more probable to be potential victims of crimes. According to Ryan (1993), crime can impede tourism by wielding a significant blow to the fragile nature of a destinations safe image. It is so very important to capitalise all our efforts to providing a crime empty destination for the tourists.Tourism is also about providing quality experience to the guests. Safety and security are seen as a priori for a prosperous tourism industry in any destination (Pizam et al., 1997 Neumayer, 2004). The UNWTO includes safety and security as a determinant of quality tourist product (UNWTO, 2003). For a tourism product or service to comply with the UNWTOs safety and security standard, it should not pose a threat to the life, health and other interests, and integrity of the consumer. As outlined by the UNWTO, the concern for safety and security is reflected in several(prenominal) components of tourism experience, including health, cleanliness of accommodation facilities, and reliable and accurate information.Tourists attributesTourists clearly possess a number of characteristics which account for their increased vulnerability (Sparks 1982). Tourists are tempting targets because they are cognize to exonerate large sums of money (Fujii and Mak 1980 Chesney-Lind and Lind 1986). They also carry items of value such as cameras, cash and credit cards (Ryan 1993). Here are three definitions that explain in details the attributes of h olidaying tourists and how these attributes can put their safety and security in jeopardy. Due to those extravagance and big-ticket(prenominal) equipment that they usually carry with them, they can be easily spotted. Parallel to the growth of tourism, many coastal areas of Mauritius continue to experience significant social problems. Many people in these areas are still underprivileged, and the poverty gap between the rich and the poor remains among the highest. Tourists are viewed as rich people and this can make a feeling of resentment or frustration from the local cosmos as they usually do not possess the same luxury goods and would like to have the same. The latter are thus tempted to enter into unlawful actions such as attacking tourists to steal their belongings. How to address such issues? This is the corporeal question here. These luxury and expensive items are demand to make their impediment in a particular destination memorable, we cannot deny it. Taking pictures a nd put down the destination both form part of the traditions and folklore of the tourism industry. For these guests it is a way to immortalise their unique experience at the destination, hence, we cannot forbid tourists to carry those expensive equipment while they are on holidays on our island but instead we should provide them with a secure and safe environment where they shall feel comfortable to guide around.Tourist perceptions on a destinations take aim of safetyFurthermore, if tourists have a negative impression of a destination where they feel threatened or unprotected, they shall develop a negative attitude towards that particular destination whereby node loyalty is likely to suffer a lot. For example, because of the US-Libya military confrontation in 1985, nearly two million Americans changed their foreign travel plans in 1986, which resulted in a 30% decrease in visitation compared with the previous year. (Richter Waugh, 1986 Sonmez Graefe, 1998b Edgell, 1990). Thi s can impact badly on the tourism industry in the area and thus induce a decline in tourists arrivals in the area. According to George (2003 577), this can happen in the following ways (1) potential tourist may decide not to visit the destination because it has a reputation for having a high crime rate. (2) If tourists feel unsafe at a destination, they are not likely to take part in activities outside their accommodation facility. (3) Tourists who have felt threatened or unsafe are not likely to return to the destination, and they are not likely to recommend the destination to others. Sonmez Graefe (1998b) indicated that despite the tourism industrys worldwide economic strength, terrorism and political turmoil present major challenges to the industry. For instance the political unrest that is present in sundry(a) African countries like Egypt, Tunisia and Libya has contributed to a negative impact on these countries as potential tourist destinations. It is therefore very importa nt to portray a very positivistic image of a tourist destination, otherwise this could impede badly on the reputation of the destination.According to sulphur African Tourism Brand Tracker, in January 2005 (DEAT 200529), 22-25 million potential travellers across eight key markets (the the States, the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Australia, India and China) did not consider South Africa as a travel destination over the past 5 years because they were concerned about safety. The persisting perception that South Africa is an unsafe destination, with an uncontrollable crime situation, can also influence the potential tourists decision-making mold (Minnaar 200713 Van Niekerk and Oelofse 20071) not to attend the event If Mauritius or other island destinations were to witness such an unsuccessful marketing campaign in regards to its tourism sector, this would be catastrophic for the economic survival of such destinations which are highly dependent upon tourists receipts. Crimes e ngaged against tourists are widely denuded around the testis and have an instant impact in terms of decreasing foreign visitor numbers and the international image of the area as a tourist destination.Information on potential Risks at the destinationMawby (2000) proposed that tourists should be informed of the risks of visiting tourist areas in order to reduce business concern of criminal incidents while holidaying. In a view of providing tourists with a high quality experience during their stay at a destination, they should be wedded sufficient information on the area. As such, they should be informed on the risks that are present in the tourist areas hence they shall be bring out prepared to face any dramatic situations. It is also important that tourists are informed of the emergency processes to be adopted in case they are victim of any kind of crime. For instance, they should be given emergency surround numbers e.g. Fire services, Police services, Hospital, Ambulance servi ces etc According to George (2002), tourists fear of crime might be derived from several sources, such as their own experience of crime, discussions about crime with their friends and acquaintances, exposure to crime through mass media (television, the internet,newspapers and radio), and perceptions of actual crime rates, as well as their perceptions of police effectiveness at the destination. It should be noted that perceived risk has a great influence on the guest during his stay at a particular destination although, that in reality, it does not exist. On the other side, an unperceived risk will not excise consumer behaviour even if it is real and tangible. However unperceived risk might be more dangerous as sometimes guests are not aware of their presence and therefore they are not prepared to face such situations. The tourism authority or other tourism linked organisations should acknowledge the fundamental role that media plays in intercommunicate a good image of a tourism d estination. It is how media will publicize crime committed against tourist and how the authorities through media will manage to reassure potential visitors of the level of safety available at the destination that will determine the long term success of a destination.Tsaur, Tzeng and Wang (1997) employ an Analytic Hierarchy Process method to determine the weight of various risk evaluation criteria of six representative group package tour itineraries for Taiwanese tourists. Their study was intended to cover two main types of risk physical risk which refers to the possibility that an individuals health is likely to be exposed to injury and sickness because of conditions such as law and order, weather, and hygiene as well as equipments risk which refers to the dangers arising from the malfunctioning of equipment, such as deficient telecommunication facilities, unsafe transportation, and breakdown of vehicles. Safety and Security of tourists should not be viewed at one side of the coin only, that is providing safety and security only in the hotel resort or while they are on tourist trips, the subject should be addressed in a more holistic way. Safety and Security of tourists should be the concern of the authorities at all times, hence places that are well known to be visited by tourists should be provided with a maximum level of security but not only while they are on official trips with hotel groups or Tour operators, it should be also while they are visiting on their own.Tourism is a part of the service sector whose unique characteristics (intangibility, inseparability, variability, and perishability) intensify the perceived risk compared to goods(Grnroos, 1990 Lovelock, 1996 Mitchell Greatorex, 1993 Zeithaml Bitner, 1996).We should not forget that the tourism product is exposed to factors, such as bad weather, unwelcoming host population, airport personnel on strike, inedibility of local food, terror, crime, political instability, disease, and natural disast ers that account for the safety and security of tourists.Roehl and Fesenmaier (1992) were among the first to study risk perception in tourism. They asked their respondents about the types of risk present in vacations in general and about types of risk present during their most recent overnight trip. (Page and Hall 2002, Lynch (1960). They suggested that strangeness and difficulties with environmental learning had implications for fear. Other studies have also stressed on the issue of overseas visitor unfamiliarity with the marine and road environments of the places they are visiting. One factor that can affect the safety and security perception of a destination is the level of familiarity with it. in that respect is ample amount of literature on familiarity and its positive influence on destination image and subsequent behaviour (Milman and Pizam, 1995 Mackay and Fesenmaier, 1997 Sonmez and Graefe, 1998 Prentice and Andersen, 2000 Baloglu, 2001 Kim and Richardson, 2003 Prentice, 2004). An increased level of familiarity is purported to provide rewards of security that outweigh potential rewards of uncertainty that is also highly likely to be costly (Burch, 1969, p. 132). Familiarity can be defined in different ways. Milman and Pizam (1995) defined familiarity as a dichotomous variable (familiar and unfamiliar) establish on the existence of a previous visit. Several researchers investigated the influence of a prior visit and observed that visitors hold more accurate and positive images than non-visitors (Milman and Pizam, 1995 Selby and Morgan, 1996 Baloglu and McCleary, 1999 Richards, 2001 Rittichainuwat et al., 2001 Vogt and Andereck, 2003 Tasci, 2006There is a tendency to think that the issue of safety and security is only at hotel but that is not always correct. Again the factor of addressing the issue in a holistic way comes forward. The picture should be viewed with all factors that make the environment of the tourism industry. The tourism industry is k nown to be a dynamic one which keeps on changing with time. It should not be viewed as a static industry therefore safety and security are important factors that should be addressed the same way while dealing with tourists. The latter keep on changing, their needs and wants also. What use to be their top priority in terms of security and safety is not necessarily the same today. Therefore strategies should be amended when needed to adapt to these changes.Effects of terrorism and other forms of attacks on TourismIn the last decade, a series of safety and security events such as terrorism attacks, crimes, natural disasters, and accidents at destinations have increased. These events have prompted travellers to acquire more detailed information and knowledge about crimes, terrorism, political situations or safety and security at particular destinations (Snmez Graefe, 1998a). The phratry 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on America spawned new and tightened security measures at corporations, airports, seaports, bus stations, train stations, sports stadiums and other places in the USA where large numbers of people, including tourists, are likely to gather for an event. (Borenstein 2001 Business Week, September 24, 2001 Merzer and Chatterjee 2001 Nieves and Samuels 2001) The tourists journey starts right after he/she has set foot out of his/her usual place of residence to travel to another destination to stay for more than 24 hours. After September 11, 2001 events, numerous attacks have been carried out in Tunisia, Yemen, Morocco, Colombia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Saudi Arabia. There have been a number of terrorist attacks in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iraq.After September 11, 2011 terrorist attack, safety and security of tourists has gained more importance. As mentioned earlier, the tourist experience does not occur only at the hotels, it is everywhere and 24/7. Tourism planners should therefore consider providing safety and security likewise. Since September 11, tourists have a constant apprehension to travel in the Middle eastside countries due to those attacks that have been perpetuated in those regions.War and political instability can deter tourists from travel. For example, the massacre inTiananmen Square in China forced 11,500 tourists to cancel their visits to Beijing in 1989(Gartner Shen, 1992). The Persian Gulf War in 1991 caused a massive redirection of tourists away from the Middle East. Even destinations such as Kenya and Tanzania that are far removed from the Middle East were negatively touched (Honey, 1999). The war on terrorin Afghanistan has created a 54 percent decline in tourist visits to Nepal (Thapa, 2004).