Crisis Management in Tourism: Key Types and Challenges
Tourism Crisis and Emergency Management:
Modern Methodologies to Protect Destinations and Enhance Preparedness
Tourism is a major economic driver globally, with the travel and tourism
sector contributing around USD 10.9 trillion in 2024 (approximately 10% of
global GDP). The sector also provided 357 million jobs worldwide in the same
year. Tourism activity has significantly recovered after the pandemic;
according to the UNWTO,
total international travel in 2024 reached about 1.4 billion visitors
(equivalent to 99% of 2019 levels), representing an 11% increase compared to
2023. Regions such as the Middle East witnessed strong recovery (receiving
nearly 95 million international visitors in 2024, 32% higher than pre-pandemic
levels), while Saudi Arabia achieved a record of nearly 30 million
international visitors in 2024. Global
tourism revenues also rose to around USD 1.6 trillion in 2024 (up 3% from
2023 and 4% from 2019).
These significant numbers highlight the critical role of the
sector in economic and social development. At the same time, tourism remains a
sensitive industry exposed to various risks (environmental, health, security,
and economic). Therefore, tourism crisis management has become a vital tool for
preparedness planning and handling emergency events. Tourism crisis management
is defined as the process of identifying potential risks and their impacts on
destinations, and developing appropriate strategies to mitigate these risks
while protecting visitors and workers. Tourism risk management plans must also
be linked to general disaster management plans within local communities, along
with early-warning systems and readiness of emergency response teams.
Accordingly, decision-makers, experts, private-sector
stakeholders (investors, hospitality companies, transportation firms), and all
tourism workers share responsibility for designing integrated plans to handle
crises. For instance, the UNWTO recommends establishing national tourism
councils with committees focused on implementing risk management, in addition
to adopting unified health standards. The
World Travel & Tourism Council has introduced certified protocols such
as the “Safe Travels” stamp to reinforce hygiene and safety practices in
destinations, helping rebuild traveler confidence.
What Are the Types of Tourism and How Do They
Address Crises?
1. Leisure
and Coastal Tourism: Recreation with Safety Considerations
Leisure tourism refers to travel for entertainment,
relaxation, and recreation. Well-known global examples include the Maldives,
Bali, and the Caribbean, where beach resorts and themed attractions are
widespread. Coastal tourism overlaps with leisure tourism, focusing on beaches
and marine activities. This type of tourism thrives in coastal regions with
warm climates and offers relaxing experiences for visitors.
Crisis Management Challenges in Leisure Tourism: Leisure tourism faces challenges such as hurricanes,
pandemics, and health-related emergencies that can disrupt resort operations.
For example, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a global shutdown of leisure tourism
and forced hotels and resorts to adopt strict hygiene protocols and social
distancing measures. Many destinations were required to obtain global safety
certifications like WTTC’s Safe Travels stamp to ensure compliance.
Environmental events also necessitate evacuation plans and infrastructure
protection for natural disasters.
Recovery Strategies: Strategies
include promoting domestic tourism during global crises, relying on travel
insurance, offering flexible cancellation policies, and prioritizing continuous
training for safety and emergency
staff, along with strict health measures.
2. Cultural
and Medical Tourism: Heritage and Healing
Cultural tourism involves visiting archaeological sites,
museums, and historical landmarks to explore heritage and traditions. Major
destinations include Rome, Athens, Cairo, Paris, Beijing, and Kyoto. Medical
tourism involves traveling for healthcare services or wellness treatments, such
as spa therapy or specialized medical centers like those near the Dead Sea in
Jordan.
Crisis Management Challenges: Cultural tourism is particularly vulnerable to security
crises (war, vandalism) and pandemics. Protecting heritage sites requires
emergency preservation plans and visitor safety measures. Medical tourism
relies heavily on strong healthcare systems and strict health procedures.
During COVID-19, borders were closed and medical centers shut down, pushing
destinations to adopt telehealth solutions and enhance sterilization protocols.
Recovery Strategies: Key
strategies include offering comprehensive travel and healthcare packages,
developing virtual tours for cultural institutions, and investing in
restoration efforts for affected heritage sites. Building traveler confidence
relies on safety and service quality.
3. Religious
Tourism: Spiritual Momentum under Strict Regulations
Religious tourism involves traveling to sacred sites and
participating in religious rituals, such as Hajj and Umrah in Mecca for
Muslims, or Christian pilgrimages to the Vatican or Jerusalem. It is one of the
oldest and most organized types of tourism, with millions gathering during
specific seasons.
Crisis Management Challenges: Large gatherings present significant health and safety
risks. To control disease transmission, authorities enforce strict health
protocols. For example, Saudi
Arabia requires pilgrims to receive specific vaccinations and undergo
health screenings. Crowd management plans, field hospitals, and mobile medical
units are essential. Organizations such as the WHO
emphasize pre-travel health education for pilgrims.
Recovery Strategies: Strategies
include improved preventive health communication, distancing protocols where
possible, digital health tracking apps, flexible scheduling during crises, and
expanded facilitated-Hajj systems to reduce overcrowding.
4. Ecotourism
and Adventure Tourism
Ecotourism focuses on nature-based, environmentally friendly
travel, such as safaris, forests, and national parks. Adventure tourism
involves physically demanding or high-risk activities like mountain climbing,
diving, rafting, and extreme sports.
Crisis Management Challenges: Ecotourism is exposed to natural disasters (wildfires,
floods, climate change) that can damage ecosystems. Safety risks are amplified
by remote locations and limited medical access. Adventure tourism is inherently
risky and requires detailed emergency plans. As one reference notes, “having a
first-aid kit alone is insufficient; comprehensive emergency systems, trained
rescue teams, qualified guides, and strict pre-activity risk assessments are
essential.” Training is delivered through accredited institutions such as The
Only Solution for Training and Consulting.
Recovery Strategies: Adventure
tourism emphasizes certifications, safety drills, and investment in
high-quality equipment. Ecotourism recovery focuses on sustainability,
environmental protection, and community-based tourism to strengthen destination
resilience.
5. Business
and Events Tourism: Adapting to Global Shifts
Business tourism includes travel for conferences,
exhibitions, corporate training, and professional meetings. Prior to COVID-19,
it represented one of the fastest-growing segments of global tourism. A
successful example during the crisis: The Only Solution Training Institute
shifted all programs and events to online formats, ensuring business continuity
and expanding attendee reach.
Crisis Management Challenges: COVID-19 abruptly halted gatherings, disrupting global
events and exhibitions.
Recovery Strategies: The
sector quickly adopted hybrid and virtual platforms. Organizers implemented
strict health safety measures (PCR tests, vaccination mandates, masks). Virtual
attendance expanded global participation, offering a flexible long-term option.
What Role Do Relevant Authorities Play in
Tourism Crisis Management?
Effective crisis management requires coordination across all
stakeholders. Governments must integrate tourism strategies with disaster
management systems and establish national tourism councils for risk mitigation.
The private sector contributes financial and technical resources, while tourism
workers (tour guides, hospitality staff, and airport employees) must receive continuous
emergency training. The Safe
Travels initiative helped unify
safety standards and rebuild traveler trust during COVID-19.
Toward a More Resilient and Sustainable
Future in Tourism Crisis Management
Crises such as pandemics and natural disasters highlight the
need for proactive risk management, technology integration, and inclusive
planning. Resilience requires sustainable infrastructure, proper training, and
learning from past events. As global pressures continue to rise, robust
crisis-management strategies will remain essential for protecting travelers and
ensuring tourism’s role as an economic engine.
The Role and Importance of Artificial
Intelligence in Tourism Crisis Management
Artificial intelligence is becoming central to enhancing the
readiness of tourism destinations for health, environmental, security, and
operational crises. Predictive analytics help detect sudden changes in tourist
flows and monitor risk indicators in real time. AI processes big data from
travel systems, bookings, and social media. Simulation models allow
decision-makers to test emergency plans before actual crises occur. AI chatbots
provide accurate information to travelers during emergencies, reducing pressure
on call centers. Computer-vision technologies improve crowd monitoring and
safety management in large events. AI-powered decision-support systems enable
faster responses and more efficient resource allocation. Integrating AI into
tourism crisis management is no longer optional; it is a strategic necessity to
ensure destination sustainability, reputation protection, and strengthened
visitor trust.
...