Tourism, Security and Safety From Theory to Practice

Crude Security
Data 
Spatial
Interpretation 
Functional
Interpretation
Risk
Assessment
Security
Information
Platform
In-Between
Stage
On-Site
Stage
Pre-Next
Trip Period
Destination
Choice
Stage
Tourists in the
Following Stages
Travel
Advisories
Tour
Operators
Travel
Agents
Mass
Media
Exiting Info.
Sources 
Figure 2
Security information platform: functional framework.
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travel industry, governmental agencies that issue travel advisories, and the mass
media. Tourists are also becoming more and more exposed to the Internet, and, in
fact, already use it quite widely when consuming travel products. However, for
those with limited or no access to the Internet, the security information produced
by the receiving affected destinations could be alternatively obtained through their
travel agent. It is proposed that this information platform on the Internet will reside
on the affected country’s national tourism web site and will be accessible through
all the major Internet search engines. With the cooperation of all tourism providers
in the affected country, all their promotional web sites will have links to this secu-
rity information platform. This will improve its accessibility and make it a more
widely used tool.
As far as 
mode of operation
is concerned it is suggested that this security infor-
mation source will be proactive. In other words, it should provide security
information and produce risk assessments all year round regardless of level of risk
involved in visiting a given affected country. A proactive approach assumes that
even when a security event is over, the crisis is not, since recurrent security events
are becoming more and more common. Also, when adopting a proactive approach,
the information such a source is producing and communicating entails high levels
of perceived reliability by all its potential customers. Another important feature of
such security information sources is its dynamic operation. In other words, it must
be updated on a daily basis; not just in terms of up-to-date security information but
also in terms of its transformation into risk assessment for travelers. The informa-
tion platform needs to be dynamic in the sense of being a two-way communication
channel. Thus, it should allow prospective travelers, tourists in the in-between
stage, on-site tourists, and returning travelers to consult it by sending their queries
using e-mail and virtual discussion groups. By functioning also as a tailor-made
information source that caters to individuals and not just for the public at large, this
push-pull operational mode will enhance the credibility and reliability of tourists
and the travel industry in the generating countries.
Another important feature of the security information platform is its proposed
ownership and operational responsibility
. It is suggested that the responsibility for
obtaining, compiling, interpreting, and disseminating the security information will
be shared equally by the receiving tourism industry and receiving governmental
tourism agencies. Funding of this platform should also be equally shared by both