Risk & Crisis Management in Tourism Sector:
Recovery from Crisis
in the OIC Member Countries
14
INTRODUCTION
International tourism amounted to 1,235 million overnight arrivals in 2016, a growth of 3.9%over
2015. International tourism receipts grew at a similar pace, increasing by 2.6% over 2015 to US$
1,220 billion in2016 (UNWTO, 2017). It represents 7%of theworld’s exports in goods and services.
Future growth in international tourism is expected to be between 3 and 3.5% a year to reach 1.8
billion arrivals by 2030 (UNWTO, 2016).
However, tourism is a unique item of international trade in that it takes place in places other than
the tourist’s home country, with tourists’ image and knowledge of destinations frequently based on
destination and travel trade marketing, and word-of-mouth or social media reports. This means
that any destination’s market potential is susceptible to negative change in the event of individual
bad experiences reported on social media, or a wider event that limits tourist activity from
functioning as expected. It is increasingly common for destination stakeholders – both public and
private – to formulate policies and strategies to avoid such risks and counter any crises that occur.
Many destinations already have plans in place to ensure rapid responses in order to restore their
tourism sectors to normal operations.
Another characteristic that marks tourism out as different frommost other forms of trade is that it
comprises a multiplicity of organisations and interests, with each tourist trip involving elements
from various sub-sectors including:
 Accommodation - large, medium and small hotels, self-catering villas, hostels, ‘Bed &
Breakfast’ establishments, caravan parks and campsites
 Food & Beverage - restaurants, cafes, hotel dining-rooms, fast food outlets, bars, street-
food stalls
 Transportation - air carriers, bus companies, car rental, taxis, marine and river
transport, cruise lines,
 Entertainment - nightclubs, casinos, cabarets, theatres, concert venues, shops
 Attractions – theme parks, museums, galleries, cultural heritage/historical sites,
gardens, amusement/recreation parks, sacred sites, interpretative centres, national
parks and other protected areas
 Travel Trade - travel agencies (including online), tour wholesalers, ground handling
agents / inbound agents, tour operators (including specialists), and tour guides
 Festivals, Events and Conferences – carnivals, sports tournaments,
meetings/conferences/ conventions, festivals, trade shows, fairs & exhibitions.
 Other Tourism Services – government tourism departments, Tourist Information
Centres, research services, reservation services, advertising agencies, trade press,
insurance, marketing professionals, professional associations, consultants, tourism
academics