Tourism disasters, crises and the risk-fear nexus: tourists perceptions of Durban as a tourism destination.

Abstract

Tourism is an important economic sector in many countries worldwide. Many governments are placing a higher priority on tourism development because it leads to increased foreign exchange income and creates employment opportunities. However, the tourism sector is prone to both natural (floods, drought, diseases) and man-made (crime, unemployment, poverty, war, terrorism) disasters, crises and risks which invariably affect not only the tourists but the functionality, sustainability and competitiveness of a destination. The cumulative impact of disasters, crises and risks can result in the death of people, destruction of fauna and flora, displacement and suffering of people. Other effects include, the destruction of human settlements, physical infrastructure such as roads, railway lines and habitats of animals. The prevalence of disasters, crises and the risk can affect tourists’ travelling patterns and destination choices. Thus, rendering some places unsafe and unattractive. The aim of the study was to examine stakeholders’ perceptions regarding crises, risk responses and other factors that accentuate the vulnerability of tourists and destinations to a myriad of problems. The study sought to analyse the tourists’ perceptions on the relationship between tourism disasters and risk-fear nexus in Durban. The main objectives were to assess the potential disasters, crises and risks which tourists are exposed to while in Durban, the subsequent impacts of such disasters, and the possible disaster mitigation measures. In this study, the mobility, disaster, risk-perception theories and the model of international tourism decision-making process were used to interrogate the disaster-risk discourse. The study utilized a mixed method approach which enabled the researcher to unpack disasters, crises and risks ‘through the eyes’ of tourists and key informants in order to gain a thorough understanding of the dynamics concerned. Interviews were conducted with 399 tourists who visited Phezulu Cultural Village, Cabana Beach Resort and Botanical Gardens in Durban. The results were then analyzed SPSS. The results revealed that natural disasters such as floods, drought, and diseases pose a serious threat to the tourists and the tourism sector in the country. Consequently, that has an impact on the image and sustainability of the destination. The results show that man-made disasters, crises and risks like xenophobia, political instability, unemployment and poverty were the most prevalent. Therefore a concerted effort must be taken to prepare for crises and resort to recovery and reduction as some measures to mitigate them. Furthermore, the dynamic nature of disasters, crises and risks require a holistic approach which views the situation from “a wide sweep of contexts, from temporal and spatial, historical, political, economic, cultural, to social and personal. Finally, the study recommends engendering community resilience as a key measure in managing disaster. Further systematic research must be conducted to analyse the factors which increase the vulnerability of tourists to disasters, crises and risks, and to explore various ways of enhancing mitigation measures.