Tourism Policy Planning - Coursework Example

Tourism Policy Planning Name Course Instructor Date Tourism Policy Planning Tourism is one of the most important sectors across the globe. Many countries are investing more resources in this sector to reap the benefits. Advancement in technology has lowered international transport costs and globalization of information has turned the world into a global village impacting on tourism (Azim, 2010). Despite these developments, the sector faces various security issues such as crimes and terror attacks. To counter these challenges, it demands appropriate tourism planning policies that will help the sector remain sustainable and beneficial to various countries. This paper covers on various aspects including connections between tourism and crime and policies to combat crime/terrorism. It further discusses whether tourism policy alone can control terrorism/crimes problem among many other issues. Tourism policy consists of goals and procedures found in formal statements such as laws and official documents (Tarafa, 2006). The policy is usually aligned on the overall economic policy of a country because tourism affects various areas such as socio-cultural, economic and environment. The tourism sector because of its impacts on the economy, it faces a number of challenges one of them being crimes and terrorism (Fletcher & Morakabati, 2008). The connection between tourism and terrorism therefore exist as most of the terrorists use the opportunity as tourists to perpetrate terrorist activities (Tarafa, 2006). According to Azim (2010), despite the fact that tourism is a key developmental component of many nations, its economic power and resiliency, it is one of the highly vulnerable sectors to both internal and external shocks. Even though natural disasters may impede tourism flow, terror attacks impacts on public travelling more severely. Many nations across the globe are very much cautious when it comes to incidences of terror (Tarafa, 2006). Many countries therefore issue tourist bans triggering realignment of travel flows as well as cancelations for fear of terror attacks and warning (Hall, 2011). Most of the people, when they perceive risks, most of them avoid such risky situations or destinations. Terror attacks reduce the number of tourists that a country receives. For instance, during 1980s when there was heightened incidences of terrorist, and in 1991 Persian Gulf War, many tourists avoided such area opting to tour to other safer destinations (Azim, 2010). The effects or impacts of terror are greater on tourism as countries affected experience drastic declines in the number of tourist visits. The incidences of terrorism as well heavily affect the economy. Through these acts of terrorists, the image of a country is tarnished. According to Green et al., (2003), the moment tourists perceive that traveling is less pleasurable because of the perceived or actual risks; they then exercise their freedoms by selecting alternative destinations. They are more concerned about their safety and no one will risk by selecting a destination that is risky or exposed to terrorist activities. When tourists faces a threat of terrorism, they engage in a number of behaviors such as visiting safer destinations instead of risky and generalizing potential risks to other nations in those regions affected (Chai-Aun, Chee-Wooi & Mat Som, 2013). As tourists opt to stay at home, the tourist sector incurs huge losses due to loss of revenues, loss of employment among many others. Therefore, security is an integral factor that guides many tourists to travel to certain destinations. These crimes and terrorist incidences in these destinations deter arrival of tourists, as they do not want to be exposed (Ahmed, Nawaz & Qazi, 2011). Number and length of terror attacks in a country affects tourism industry. A country with a history of crimes and terrorist receives fewer tourists compared to a country with enhanced security. A good case is Egypt. Between 1997 and 2004, Egypt experienced high growth in the number of tourists as the number doubled from three to nine million (Beirman, 2006). This was after the Luxor massacre that happened in 1997 leading to death of 58 foreign tourists shot. The government through its strategies such as leveraging security in tour groups, resorts and hotels and major tourist attractions and destinations, the number of tourism began to increase (Beirman, 2006). However, in 2006, more locations such as Sinai Peninsula were hit by five-suicide bomb. Other bombing at Dahab led to death of 20 people, six of them foreigner (Beirman, 2006). Many more were injured. These attacks had a negative impact on the tourism sector as the country image was in bad public limelight. The scenario is a clear indication of the fact that, crimes/ terrorists goes hand in hand with the tourism sector. The moment tourists perceive the security of a nation secure the tourism sector blossoms and vice versa. Various reasons contribute to terrorist attacks on tourists. One of them is to achieve strategic objectives. Terrorists want to take advantage of the excitement and commotion as a cover for their activities with the aim of destabilizing the economy to gain the much-needed media attention (Yuksel, Fisun & Culha, 2012). They want to destruct the tourism sector and gain publicity as well as to satisfy their own resource needs. Terrorists travel in foreign countries as tourists to avoid creating suspicion. This therefore acts as an avenue to perpetrate their criminal activities. Another reason why these terrorists targets tourists is to achieve ideological objectives. Some of the countries attacked have different ideologies, cultures or value or socio-economic values contrary to those of the terrorists (Yuksel, Fisun & Culha, 2012). They therefore, use this platform to voice their grievances as a way of showing their hostilities to the government. Therefore, the tourist sectors remain a very crucial sector and terrorists or criminals use the avenue to ensure that they pursue their goals. With increasing rates of terrorism, it is important that different policy options available are adopted to help combat crime and/or terrorism. One of the policies is to enhance communication with the public and all the stakeholders (Tarafa, 2006). Tourism sector is sustainable if all stakeholders are involved in the issues affecting the sector (Vucetic, 2008). Terrorism is a complex problem and government requires support of other stakeholders to succeed in its fight. It requires public participation to help in soliciting information about the people they suspect as terrorist as well as to contribute ideas and opinions on how to ensure that the sector thrives. Security is as well another policy available that require maintenance to ensure that the sector thrives (Hall, 2011). Terrorists attack a location when they see a lapse in the security machinery of a nation. Countries across the globe therefore have a responsibility to ensure that they improve their security to ensure that any tourist traveling from any part of the country is safe. Beefing up security in the tourist destinations, strategic locations and in the airplanes or airports can help curb crimes and terrorists related cases. The current legislation and regulations in tourism require full enforcement (Tarafa, 2006). The law set and policies of developing tourism as well establishes the structure, functions and sources of funding of both national and regional offices. Regulations are as well essential in preserving and protecting various tourist facilities, historical, cultural and the natural resources of the country. The regulations may take any form such as air regulations that aims to ensure security of the passengers as they fly from one country to another. Others may include consumer protection laws and rules, fire safety laws, health and food safety among many others (Tarafa, (2006). If the nation has well-established regulations and legislation pertaining to tourism then the case of terrorist will decline (Tarafa, 2006). For instance, regulations on stiffer screening and security measures in the airports will help to detect criminal elements. Such measures will contribute positively on reducing terror attacks. Countries neighboring one another and across the globe are required to cooperate when it comes to fight against terror groups. Unity and cooperation will help to deter terrorist and criminals and this will affect positively the tourism industry. Tourism policy plays a key role in enhancing service delivery and as well on issues concerning terror and crime control. However, tourism policy alone is not enough to control and prevent crimes and terror attacks. The government and other stakeholders must play their role to help in the fight against terror. Some of the people in politics plan or finance these terror attacks as a way of ensuring that they intimidate those in leadership for them to remain relevant (Sonmez, Apostolopoulos & Tarlow, 1999). Such cases cannot be eliminated by tourism policy only, but it will require that government bodies such as judiciary join them to fight against such acts. Terrorists or crime directed to tourism is an economic sabotage to a nation that heavily depends on the sector. This means that, the government must ensure that it provides the necessary support and resources to fight those perpetrating the trade. Therefore, through government intervention, the level of crimes and terror threats will definitely reduce. In conclusion, tourism policy planning is a very important in the tourist industry. Planning ensures systematic pursuant and attainment of the goals and objectives. Even as the tourism sector gains popularity and continues to earn countries colossal sums of money, it faces threats of terrorism. The high rates of terror attacks in a country affect directly the number of tourists that travel the country. Therefore, it is apparent that tourism and terrorists relate. Tourism policy planning is therefore important in ensuring that the sector is secure. Beefing security in various vantage locations or sites can help to greater magnitude in improving the tourist sector. The government and various institutions must work together to find appropriate ways to seal any loopholes that permit terror activities. References Ahmed, I., Nawaz, M., & Qazi, T. (2011). Impact of terrorism on tourism industry: a point to ponder. International Journal of Academic Research, 3(4):249-256. Azim, T. (2010). The relationship between the perception of risk and the decision making process of travel of French tourists: the case of Egypt. Tourismos, 5(2): 29-47 Beirman, D. (2006). Dahab bombing: tourism crisis and recovery in Egypt. Http://www.eturbonews.com/. Accessed 24 Sept. 2014. Chai-Aun, O., Chee-Wooi, H., & Mat Som, A. (2013). Tourism crises and state level tourism demand in Malaysia. International Journal of Business & Society, 14(3): 376-389. Fletcher, J., & Morakabati, Y. (2008). Tourism activity, terrorism and political instability within the commonwealth: The cases of Fiji and Kenya. International Journal of Tourism Research, 10(6): 537-556. Green, C et al. 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