Risk & Crisis Management in Tourism Sector:
Recovery from Crisis
in the OIC Member Countries
20
Table 1.1: Crisis Management Framework
No. Stage Principal strategies & actions Key stages
1 Pre-event Contingency planning Prevention, based on
known information
2 Prodromal (onset of
crisis situation)
Initiation of contingency plan Response
3 Emergency Protective actions during crisis Response
4 Intermediate Short-term needs addressed, clear
communication strategy in place
Response
5 Recovery Rebuilding/restoring infrastructure,
facilities, and tourist attractions,
coordinated and sustained
marketing response
Stimulation of recovery
6 Resolution Review of actions taken to feed into
further contingency plans
Prevention, based on new
learning
Based on Faulkner (2001)
It should be noted that the duration of crises can vary considerably. Some can be of rapid and
unexpect occurrence, such as with an earthquake, while others can be much slower to build up. In
both cases the effects can be sustained: in the case of natural disasters the infrastructure can take
many years to rebuild, while in the case of political and societal upheaval the physical infrastructure
may be relatively undamaged, but the ‘soft’ infrastructure of institutions and business networks can
take a long time to regain their essential functions. Faulkner’s framework is flexible enough to cover
all of these eventualities and will be used to structure Section 2 of this report on developing
mitigation strategies and actions to address the different stages of the crisis as it builds and
subsides.
Crisis management planning entails establishing structures to develop policies and courses of
action to be taken in the event of a crisis, and covers arrangements and procedures according to the
six stages of a crisis developing. The actions to be taken essentially fall into three overall phases, as
shown in Table 1.1 above (more detailed of actions to be taken are given in Section 2):
1. Prevention – crisis management body, plan, procedures
Thoughmany crises are unexpected (especially natural disasters), governments and businesses can
protect themselves from the worst consequences by establishing a multi-representative body to
assess the potential risks and establishing policies and procedures to deal with any consequences
of the crisis. At this stage a crisis response plan will be prepared, both in the form of written
procedures and by training key personnel.
2. Response – delivery of the plan and procedures
When a crisis event occurs, the key factors in the early stages are a rapid and coordinated response
of the destination tourism authorities and operators, particularly in respect of assessing the
severity of the crisis and ensuring the safety of tourists and residents, followed by actions to
minimise the medium- to longer-term consequences and facilitate recovery from the situation.