Tourism Risk Management - Sustainable Tourism Online

Disasters in Asia and the Pacific
Many Asian countries, especially those in South East Asia, are densely populated and prone to
disasters which have a severe and negative effect upon their economies and development. Countries
with long coastlines are repeatedly affected by cyclones (typhoons); floods are an annual feature in
the region claiming lives and destroying huge areas of land in India, Indonesia and Bangladesh; flash
floods are common in hilly and mountainous regions; seismic disturbances are very common in Asia;
and in India the entire sub-Himalayan region is prone to earthquakes.
Landslides are increasingly common in hilly and mountainous regions causing extensive damage to
roads, bridges, human dwellings, and land as well as loss of human lives. Volcanic eruptions have
recently caused significant death and destruction. Diverse agro-climactic conditions account for the
frequent occurrence of droughts in India, Pakistan, Burma and Indonesia, while regular epidemics of
enteric diseases such as cholera, typhoid, respiratory infections, and vector-borne diseases are
common. Cyclones and floods are seasonal events in the Pacific, while volcanic activity and
earthquakes are additional and significant sources of risk to communities.
Disasters in Asia and the Pacific are also caused by civil disturbance, terrorism and transportation
accidents.
Transport Incidents
Transport incidents such as bus crashes, train derailments and ferry accidents are relatively routine
emergencies throughout the developed world, yet when victims include a significant number of
international visitors they generate a high level of media attention. The degree of media coverage
often relates to the frequency, scale, and severity of the incident (particularly the number of injuries
and fatalities); however, such publicity often serves to engender negative destination images and
perceptions.
Although tourism and destination officials are not directly responsible for these incidents, the
circumstances often warrant close scrutiny of accepted safety conditions and standards. Recent
high profile bus crashes in Egypt (January 2006) have been attributed to speed and poor road
conditions, while the visitor-chartered ferry that capsized off Bahrain killing 44 people in March 2006
was reportedly unstable and unlicensed. Similar incidents cite causes such as overcrowding,
insufficient safety equipment, poor operational conditions and general negligence. Ferry incidents
and motorbike accidents had become so common in Thailand during 2005 that the Australian
Government began officially to warn potential travellers of the hazards involved in using these forms
of transport.
While many countries have legislated minimal safety standards, compliance and maintenance is
often the responsibility of individual operators. As part of a proactive risk management process,
individual businesses should endeavour to review and implement best practice safety procedures,
as government and industry should pressure dangerous operators to conform through enforcement
of safety codes and legal requirements.
Common preventative strategies for businesses and operators include:
• regular safety audits of vehicles/equipment/facilities;
• scheduled inspection, maintenance and repairs;
• employee safety training/certification;
• reviewing and adherence to minimum safe operational conditions eg, maximum capacity,
46 Tourism Risk Management – An Authoritative Guide to Managing Crises in Tourism