Disaster Risk Management for Coastal Tourism - Caribbean Hotel ...

Disaster Risk Management For Coastal Tourism Destinations Responding To Climate Change
A Practical Guide For Decision Makers
Conclusions
Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction at tourism destinations means creating a
pervasive culture of disaster preparedness. It also presupposes an alignment of
political will and leadership with disaster management goals and objectives, and
the actions and resources to strengthen the disaster management infrastructure
and operation – all for the purpose of achieving destination resilience. The ultimate
measure of this is not only an articulated plan of action but also the achievement of
desired outcomes in the face of disaster events.
The Handbook outlines a range of options that tourism destinations should
consider for mainstreaming risk reduction in post-disaster recovery including the
use of hazard scenarios to anticipate long term recovery issues, establishing a
standing recovery task force to oversee reconstruction or by providing incentives or
disincentives to either encourage or discourage behaviours.
The choice is clear: climate-proof and resilient destinations and communities are
strategies that must be adopted and quickly. The good news is that there is a wealth
of know-how, expertise and experience readily available from multiple sources.
conserving energy, natural resources and critical ecosystems, end up improving
their bottom-lines in the short and long term and creating shareholder value. These
are also the actions required for mitigating disasters. Coastal ecosystems naturally
protect and nourish coastlines. These should be considered a treasured national
resource and treated accordingly with diligent care and preservation.
On the other hand, human communities and systems require preventative and
preparedness actions against disasters. The challenge is overcoming the barriers
to cooperation, inertia and lack of will of decisions-makers at the policy, business
and community levels. This may also be addressed through awareness-raising of
disaster events, enlightened leadership, public and private sector cooperation and
commitment to a common goal. The desired result is a tourism destination that
delivers on its promise consistently and has an established reputation for protecting
its residents, businesses, and visitors against the effects of natural hazards.
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