What tourist business managers must learn from disaster research

Thomas E. Drabek, PhD

doi:10.5055/jem.2016.0276

Authors

Thomas E. Drabek, PhD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2016.0276

Keywords:

emergency manager-tourism interface, tourist business disaster preparedness, disaster impacts on tourist industry, tourist business manager education

Abstract

Death and social disruption caused by disasters of varying forms will continue to increase in the future. So too will the impacts on tourism, now one of the fastest growing and largest sectors of the worldwide economy. Tourist business managers must implement evidence-based preparedness activities to enhance the survival potential and future profitability of their firms. Drawing upon recent research studies of the tourist industry during times of crisis and the broad social science knowledge base regarding human responses to disaster, seven key lessons are described. Emergency managers must facilitate the incorporation of these lessons into the culture of tourist business managers.

Author Biography

Thomas E. Drabek, PhD

John Evans Professor and Professor, Emeritus, Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado.

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