Tourism and terrorism : a crisis management perspective : an investigation of stakeholders’ engagement in the context of Egyptian holiday destinations

Althnayan, Abdulrahman

Abstract

Terrorism has come to be considered as one of the defining crises facing the tourism industry. In spite of its importance, the knowledge of how to manage the terrorism crisis in the tourism industry is rudimentary. The main aim of this study is to narrow this gap. In particular, it proposes a conceptual framework applying stakeholder theory to the practical methods used and strategies followed in the management of crises in the tourism industry. The point of departure of this conceptual framework is the twofold premise that stakeholders inherently influence the management of an organization and that the organization should meet their demands and balance their claims. This task, however, is complicated by the fact that stakeholders vary in their salience and that they interact with one another differently. In addition, stakeholder management does not take place in isolation; cultural factors have an influence on the ways that stakeholders interact. These factors constitute the theoretical foundation of the proposed framework. These theoretical assumptions are then applied to the practical postures or strategies that stakeholders adopt in managing terrorism crises in the tourism industry. This conceptual framework is applied in particular to the Egyptian case of the bombings in Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab and Taba. The findings of the study indicate that because of the idiosyncratic nature of terrorism, which is regarded as raising major security issues, the participation of a large number of stakeholders at most stages of crisis management does not necessarily lead to the most effective and efficient crisis management. Instead, as the thesis indicates, a crisis management model in which the crisis stage is dominated by police and security forces and where the recovery stage relies upon the participation of most stakeholders has proved to be both efficient and successful.

Citation

Althnayan, A. (2012). Tourism and terrorism : a crisis management perspective : an investigation of stakeholders’ engagement in the context of Egyptian holiday destinations. (Thesis). University of Hull. Retrieved from https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4213372

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Nov 6, 2012
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 22, 2023
• Keywords: Business
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4213372
• Additional Information: Business School, The University of Hull
• Award Date: Feb 1, 2012