Risk & Crisis Management in Tourism Sector:
Recovery from Crisis
in the OIC Member Countries
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Given the wide range of natural crises it has undergone, the Indonesian experience also provides
an insight into recovery fromcrises, building resilience, and creating tourismopportunities from
natural disasters. Thus, three volcanic environments were examined in order to identify ways
in which the visitor experience could be enhanced and safety ensured at volcanic locations
(Agustan et al, 2016). However, the study found no evidence of risk and crisis management
policies at the locations; in fact, in certain cases, managers of key tourist facilities were reluctant
to close sites. The study team also found a lack of co-operation between the relevant agencies in
the management of tourism attractions in volcanic environments. The team recommended the
adoption of Faulkner’s (2001) Tourism Disaster Management Framework model in these places
(as outlined in Section 1), and proposed the construction of a visitor/interpretative centre to
raise awareness of volcanoes and potential hazards, while enhancing the visitor experience
through high quality interpretation and supporting facilities.
The niche market of ‘Disaster Tourism’ or ‘Dark Tourism’ occurs in Indonesia, i.e. when tourists
visit locations which have been affected by disasters to better understand the impact of such
events on local communities. Although this niche market is considered by some to be unsavoury
because it profits from people’s misfortunes, Sarojini Iman examined its impact on communities
in Aceh Province following the tsunami in 2004 and found that tourism can play a role in
assisting the recovery process and improving the socio-economic circumstances of communities
(Iman, 2017, pers. comm., 3 May).
4.1.4.
Critical Success Factors in Resilience of Indonesian Tourism
The government planned a marketing campaign in 2008 with a brand ‘Visit Indonesia Year’.
The campaign included over one hundred events, with a tourism development budget of
US$ 15.9 million was acquired, most of which (80%) was allocated for promoting Indonesia
as a safe destination. The campaign included messages on international media and media
visits to attractions and contributed to the recovery of the tourism sector (Simpson, 2007).
The government eased entry procedures for visitors by adding 45 countries to the visa-free
list in 2015. In 2016, through Presidential Regulation no.21, the number of visa-free
countries was raised again to 169 countries. Meanwhile the government eased regulations
on the disembarkation of passengers from yachts and cruise ships in five Indonesian ports.
In 2016, the Indonesian government announced that the tourism sector is a central part of
the country’s economic growth strategy. It is aimed that tourism’s contribution to GDP will
reach 8% by 2019. Accordingly, the budget for tourism marketing was increased from US$
30 million in 2014 to US$ 263 million in 2016 (Putra, 2017, pers. comm., 2 May).
One of the advantages that Bali had during the social and political instability in Indonesia
in 1997-1999 was its exclusion from any riots or social instability, which gave it the
reputation as being one of the safest places in Indonesia at the time. The island enjoyed
record tourism arrivals during that period, which has benefitted its economy. In 1971
tourism sector contributed 33.36% to the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), but by
2000 its contribution to Bali’s GRDP had risen to 69.1% (Suparwoko, 2012).
Bali still has not only the highest number of tourist arrivals, but also the highest number of
foreign visitors in proportion to its inhabitants. In 2000-01 Bali had a total of 736.92