Why should security aspects be more seriously considered in development of Serbian tourism industry?

Abstract

Tourism today starts to be a part of everyday life for millions of citizens all over the world. According to the Travel&Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013, security is among the critical factors determining the competitiveness of a country’s tourism industry. The most common reasons that are usually given are growing threats of terrorist acts, relatively high level of crime in the region and unknown diseases. The World Tourism Organization stated that one of the factors limiting the development of the industry is that issues related to security in tourism are not sufficiently regulated. The statistics show that the vast majority of organizations in tourism infrastructure are operating at a loss due to terrorism and natural disasters. This statement was particularly confirmed after a great decrease of tourist visits to Puket and New Orleans after the horrible natural disasters (tsunami and hurricane Katrina, respectively). The question which arising in scientific and public community is: ‘’How to provide the adequate level of security for tourists.’’ Tourism is announced as one of the priorities in future development of the Republic of Serbia. The author used the methodology appropriate for social science. The study results have indicated an urgent need for acceptance of holistic approach regarding the issue. Tourism industry has to recognize the importance of security in its daily activities and in these efforts needs to closely cooperate with security services on the local and national level.

Turizam postaje deo svakodnevice za milione ljudi širom sveta. Prema izveštaju Svetskog Ekonomskog Foruma Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013, bezbednost spada u kritične faktore koji određuju konkurentnost turističke industrije jedne zemlje. Najčešći razlozi koji se obično daju jesu rastuća pretnja od terorističkih akata, relativno visoka stopa kriminala u regionu, kao i nepoznate bolesti. Svetska turistička organizacija saopštila je da je jedan od faktora koji limitiraju razvoj ove privredne grane taj što pitanja vezana za bezbednost u turizmu nisu adekvatno regulisana. Statistike pokazuju da velika većina organizacija uključenih u turističku infrastrukturu posluje sa gubicima usled terorizma i prirodnih katastrofa. Ova izjava naročito se potvrdila posle velikog pada turističkih poseta Puketu i Nju Orleansu nakon strašnih prirodnih katastrofa (pogođenih cunamijem i uraganom 'Katrina'). Pitanje koje se javljau naučnoj i stručnoj javnosti jeste: 'Kako obezbediti adekvatan nivo bezbednosti za turiste?'. Turizam se najavljuje kao jedan od razvojnih prioriteta Republike Srbije u budućnosti. Autorke su koristile metodologiju primenjivu u društvenim naukama. Rezultati studija su ukazali na hitnu potrebu za pronalaženjem holističkog pristupa ovom problemu. Turistička industrija mora da prepozna značaj bezbednosti u svojim svakodnevnim aktivnostima i da u svom radu blisko sarađuje sa bezbednosnim službama na lokalnom i nacionalnom nivou.