Tourism Planning - Policies, and Relationships - Literature review Example

Tourism Policy Planning By (Name) Institution Instructor Class/Course City Date Introduction The pillars forming the objectives of tourism are adventure, leisure, studies, health, economic growth, innovation, discoveries, among many others. Tourism is not only important to the tourists, but also to the host country and community. A clear outline of the objective, mission, and the benefits of tourism necessitate proper planning of the same. With the increasing rate of tourism activities in many countries, considering increasing globalization, negative implements of urbanization and commercialization of tourism has increased crimes and terrorism in the same margin. Such unfortunate incidences have made the local and international authorities to design policies that govern and protect tourism, considering that tourism is a major contributor to economic growth and development. This paper therefore examines the relating factors to tourism policy and planning by analyzing a major sub-topics in this study by studying tourism in respect to crime. Tourism and Crime The major focus of tourism involves learning, adventures, and physical consciousness like bodily health, well-being, and physical relaxation. However, other tourists go on tour to satisfy their cultural curiosity of the host’s tradition and culture. Others travel to visit their family, friends, and relatives as well as new people. Tourism is an interacting relationship and activity among the parties involves such as the tourists themselves with the local communities, hosting governments, as well as the local businesspersons. These are among the many reasons why people tour across different geographical boundaries. The summary of all these factors shows that tourism is a relationship-based activity touching on the various inner facets of life. The growth of tourism industry has magnificently boomed in many countries and many countries, such is in Africa has become the major driver of economic growth. In fact, some towns exist because of tourism. In examining this growth, it comes with a price of several negativities, such as crime, that have prompted polices to be designed to link tourism and crime. Dredge & Jenkins (2007) regard tourism as the second largest service industry in the United States responsible for creating millions of jobs both directly and indirectly and injecting revenues worth millions of dollars in the United States. However, the growth of tourism has also led to the increase of negative incidences and practices such as crimes. Different kinds of criminal activities have been on the rise due to increased opportunities presented by tourism. As argued by Peak (2004), a long-standing relationship between crime and tourism has led to major crimes such as robbery, burglary among others since tourism has very lucrative targets because they carry large amounts of money and other valuables. Secondly, tourists are easy targets due to their vulnerability and relaxed modes, sometimes careless on tour. In addition, these tourists are in foreign places and do not wish to case problems, thus less likely to report the crimes against them. It has been determined that the leading cause of tourism decline involves security and safety. With increasing crime rate in tourism prone zones, most governments’ policy makers have to devise policy that counter the crime rate in respective countries. Protecting tourists from criminal and terrorism necessitates being proactive in stopping these crimes from the starting point, even beyond borders. Every country that hosts tourists must be very active and constructively play a major role in developing tools required in fighting crimes and related activities (Morin, 2006). The cause of these criminal activities leading to poor security for the tourists depends on the security status and the political temperatures of the host country. Terrorists and criminals behave the same since their actions of malice aim at human and drug trafficking, money laundering, as well as corruption. The first step in fighting terrorism and crimes is becoming very vigilant, alert, and actively participating in the affairs, safety, and security of the tourists. The counter-terrorism and crime requires reconstruction efforts across security agencies across boundaries. Security programs of the host country and their efforts must well documented and adhered to, without necessarily providing it publicly, but it can be done in a private manner and providing public confidence. The efforts of combating both the local and transnational crime can be linked both positively and negatively to the counterterrorism policies. Although these links may raise issues on the priorities, between crime and terrorism, but the two elements may surmount to one if the crimes in this case are committed on tourists, thus becoming an international issue. Therefore, the argument in this is that counter-criminal policies protecting tourists should be weighed in the same manner and sensitivity as those policies in regards to terrorism (Morin, 2006). Dredge & Jenkins (2007) argues also that the physical characteristics of the tourist location may also contribute to crime. These centers and places known for tourists may be old without any private security officers and they may lack video monitoring technologies as well, thus exposing them to adverse risks to criminal activities. In addition to that, the known tourists’ areas have been characterized by high population turnover and anonymity thereby giving criminals or terrorists higher advantage to conceal them. Such offenders may tactfully hide among people, especially when security officers deal with the huge traffic volumes and other routine work that are not related to crime. Finally, most of the local tourists’ locations are known for their scenic and isolated nature source locations, thus inviting even the adventurous tourists to explore the remote surroundings from abroad. Security policy makers must upgrade the security set ups especially boosting security technology apparatus in the hotels, parks, and along the beaches of the coastal regions. Employing security and guides along with the tourists’ visitors, both local and foreign must, and have been made mandatory in most countries. According to Morin (2006), routine activities is the most theoretical basis for the argument purporting that crime rates increase as does the number of visitors to an area. This argument is based on the direct proportionality between crime and population. However, Bhatia (2002), argues that increase in visitors (especially tourists) does not necessarily contribute to the social disorganization but the increase in income would make some of the effects of social disorganization. Based on routine activities theory, there are three factors-elements of predatory crime rate: motivated offenders, suitable targets, and the absence of capable security. Policy makers using this theory to modify their capability to combat terrorism and crime, focus on the land and air use attractors to get the offenders and the potential victims. The assessment of the tourism and crime by most researches as argued by Bhatia (2002), states that based on the routine activities theory, the most three feared crimes in most cities attracting tourists include murder, rape, and robbery and are mostly linked to tourism. Therefore, the policies aimed at combating these criminal activities must meet their execution without remorse and favor. It is also important to note the tourists may be the victims or the perpetrators of the said crimes and terrorism activities. It is important for the security system to have a clear database and background checks of the tourists as well without dealing in the hope that they are just tourists. Most developed countries have diverted crimes and a high level effort to fight crimes and terrorism by being very vigilant on people getting into and going outside the country with strict background checks on every one. Counter terrorism policies remain clear on the identities of the people getting into the country and ensure that every tip of information that links anyone to terrorism or criminal activities is well taken care of. Thus, by having information on people, crime and terrorism rate linked to tourism are greatly reduced (Peak et al., 2004). Finally and most importantly, the government cannot fight terrorism and crimes alone. The governments need help from its citizens. People need to be careful and report any suspicious tip of information to the authorities within the shortest time possible. Most of the crimes and terrorism activities have been committed due to the negligence from the public scaring away from giving the tips of information to the security authorities. In order to be safe and secure, every citizen must participate appropriately. Therefore, in a practical sense, tourism policies alone cannot control the problem of tourism and crime. Peak (2004) states that there are normal impediments to the future cases that would be expected to provide clear assessment of issues related to the tourists and crime. However, a comprehensive study and analysis of the cities that addresses the issues of the tourism and crime in destination places, specifically on routine activities are very vital. The convergence between the two, tourism, and crime should be compared with their relationship with the social, economic, and demographic factors that would explain perfectly the occurrences of crime in such like areas. Policy makers, especially in developed worlds involves in studies of the locations in order to understand the places and variations of nature as well as population in such places. The aim is to device ways that could assist their tourism in better addressing the crime problem by first considering the tourists traffic, the areas of the city affected by tourists, and prevention strategies as well as the use of the security officers. The valuable information regarding the security of such places is relevantly handled by the security personnel as well as the tourism managers in such like cities already involves in massive tourism influx as well as those targeting to be like them. The relationship between crime and tourism should also be determined through both theoretical and practical levels of understanding the vice in order to make better policy on tourism and tourism planning. In this case, the theoretical influence as we as the applied impact would be expected to provide better explanation to the stranger crimes and the routine activities of a particular segment of tourists or visitors. However, as argued by Peak (2004), far too little attention has been given on the vice, other than just reacting after incidence had occurred. Technically, it is the responsibility of social scientists to provide viable explanations of phenomena and relationships so policy-makers can best utilize their resources to enhance the quality of life of residents and visitors. Conclusion The crime rate is increasing with alarming rate in the developing world, where coincidentally most tourism cites are. However, whatever the outcome, tourism cannot be seen in isolation. The change in the crime patterns will have a great impact on economic and social policies pertaining tourism and tourism planning. The security patterns in the world, with the increasing sensitivity of terrorism in the world make terrorism a major recipient of their negativity. Therefore, the policies and the planners of tourism take all the considerations of the facets of terrorism and crime in ensuring that the sector remains in its position as the best contributor to economic growth and international integration. References Bhatia, A. K. 2002. Tourism development: Principles and practices. New Delhi: Sterling Publishers. Dredge, D., & Jenkins, J. M. 2007. Tourism planning and policy. Milton, Wiley Australia. Hall, C. M. 2007. Tourism planning: policies, processes and relationships. Harlow, Prentice Hall. Husband, C., & Alam, Y. 2011. Social cohesion and counter-terrorism: a policy contradiction? Bristol, Policy Press. Morin, R. 2006, August 17. The Surprising Impact of Global Warming on Tourism. Retrieved September 21, 2015, from PewResearch center: http://www.pewresearch.org/2006/08/17/the-surprising-impact-of-global-warming-on-tourism/ Peak, R. W. 2004. The Problem of Crimes Against Tourists. Retrieved Sep 21, 2015, from Center for Problem-Oriented Policing: http://www.popcenter.org/problems/crimes_against_tourists/ Sharpley, R. 2009. Tourism development and the environment: beyond sustainability? London, Earthscan. World Tourism Organization, & United Nations Environment Programme. 2008. Climate change and tourism: responding to global challenges. Madrid, World Tourism Organization. Read More

As argued by Peak (2004), a long-standing relationship between crime and tourism has led to major crimes such as robbery, burglary among others since tourism has very lucrative targets because they carry large amounts of money and other valuables. Secondly, tourists are easy targets due to their vulnerability and relaxed modes, sometimes careless on tour. In addition, these tourists are in foreign places and do not wish to case problems, thus less likely to report the crimes against them. It has been determined that the leading cause of tourism decline involves security and safety.

With increasing crime rate in tourism prone zones, most governments’ policy makers have to devise policy that counter the crime rate in respective countries. Protecting tourists from criminal and terrorism necessitates being proactive in stopping these crimes from the starting point, even beyond borders. Every country that hosts tourists must be very active and constructively play a major role in developing tools required in fighting crimes and related activities (Morin, 2006). The cause of these criminal activities leading to poor security for the tourists depends on the security status and the political temperatures of the host country.

Terrorists and criminals behave the same since their actions of malice aim at human and drug trafficking, money laundering, as well as corruption. The first step in fighting terrorism and crimes is becoming very vigilant, alert, and actively participating in the affairs, safety, and security of the tourists. The counter-terrorism and crime requires reconstruction efforts across security agencies across boundaries. Security programs of the host country and their efforts must well documented and adhered to, without necessarily providing it publicly, but it can be done in a private manner and providing public confidence.

The efforts of combating both the local and transnational crime can be linked both positively and negatively to the counterterrorism policies. Although these links may raise issues on the priorities, between crime and terrorism, but the two elements may surmount to one if the crimes in this case are committed on tourists, thus becoming an international issue. Therefore, the argument in this is that counter-criminal policies protecting tourists should be weighed in the same manner and sensitivity as those policies in regards to terrorism (Morin, 2006).

Dredge & Jenkins (2007) argues also that the physical characteristics of the tourist location may also contribute to crime. These centers and places known for tourists may be old without any private security officers and they may lack video monitoring technologies as well, thus exposing them to adverse risks to criminal activities. In addition to that, the known tourists’ areas have been characterized by high population turnover and anonymity thereby giving criminals or terrorists higher advantage to conceal them.

Such offenders may tactfully hide among people, especially when security officers deal with the huge traffic volumes and other routine work that are not related to crime. Finally, most of the local tourists’ locations are known for their scenic and isolated nature source locations, thus inviting even the adventurous tourists to explore the remote surroundings from abroad. Security policy makers must upgrade the security set ups especially boosting security technology apparatus in the hotels, parks, and along the beaches of the coastal regions.

Employing security and guides along with the tourists’ visitors, both local and foreign must, and have been made mandatory in most countries. According to Morin (2006), routine activities is the most theoretical basis for the argument purporting that crime rates increase as does the number of visitors to an area. This argument is based on the direct proportionality between crime and population. However, Bhatia (2002), argues that increase in visitors (especially tourists) does not necessarily contribute to the social disorganization but the increase in income would make some of the effects of social disorganization.

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