Crisis Management

The tourism sector is especially vulnerable to the often unavoidable impacts of natural and man-made disasters and events. This makes the implementation of a timely communications response crucial.

Worldwide and local experience shows that the absence of an effective, tourism-focussed communications response in the immediate and short term following a crisis or incident can be devastating to local businesses, towns and regions. The lack of a planned, coordinated communications effort can significantly delay the restoration of a region’s ability to attract visitors and to generate economic activity.

Crisis communications strategies are needed to help retain the confidence of travellers and the travel industry, and to minimise the impact of a crisis on the destination.

Local and regional tourism bodies need to be prepared for a response to, and recovery from, crisis events. This is achieved through:

• Highlighting potential impacts of a crisis or incident on local and regional tourism, and thereby regional economies,
• Raise awareness among local authorities, government agencies, tourism associations and tourism businesses of the value of a coordinated and timely response,
• Identification of potentially relevant stakeholders and methods of communication,
• Suggesting preparatory measures for a timely and professional response,
• Detailing the role of regional or local Tourism Response & Recovery Groups (TRRG),
• Providing personal action plans detailing responsibilities of TRRG members,
• Outlining a media management plan, including recommended procedures, protocols, holding statements, checklists etc,
• Explaining how best to manage media attention,
• Outlining a tourism industry communication plan,
• Examining communications options as part of a recovery plan.

Click here to download the Crisis Communications Handbook