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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