TOWARDS A RESILIENT TOURISM SECTORJayne MacDougallLe Meridien Phuket Beach Resort

Being a tourist, a visitor, a guest

The nature of Tourist destinations Sometimes hazardous due to location

An environment that is foreign to us in some ways:-

Language

Custom

Signage

Symbols

The very things we find exotic about the destination can

become the source of fear for us.

Hotels and Resorts have….

Resources of food, blankets,water, shelter, water treatment, etc.

Emergency equipment and supplies Communications equipment/capabilities Trained and “expert” staff Speak many languages A “small city” Workshops, generators, pumps, buses.

Hotels and Resorts have vast resources.

UN Global Assessment Report in 2013 found that hotels manage emergencies well but do not handle more severe events well.

WHY?

No government requirement?

Not a high priority from management?

High cost to employ someone?

No perceived financial benefit?

Do not have access to the resources to be better prepared?

Background of Hotel Resilient

Joint Project of The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDRR), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Global Initiative on Disaster Risk Management (GIDRM), GIZ.

Stakeholders from government and private sector

Developing a auditable system and toolbox of templates and formats to support hotels and Resorts to develop their “tailor made” systems and improve their resilience.

Focusing on Indonesia, the Maldives, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand. All popular tourist destinations with their own specific potential risks.

How do hotels become more resilient?

By assessing risk, developing plans , by training teamsA process of an ongoing and dynamic natureCommitment required from the Head of the organization -management or from the Regional or Corporate structure of the company to implement them. SME’s need access to guidance and support to proceed.

Constant checking- Internal and External auditing activities

What is important?

Templates for system to plan for and handle a disaster – including:-

•Access to early warning systems (if available)•Risk assessments•checklists•Equipment/communication•Trained personnel- lifeguards, first aid, rescue teams and procedures; training, training, training.•Emergency supplies•Recording methods•Daily activities and structures – emergency contacts•Monitoring activities- equipment checks•Informing- for guests- signs, printed information, staff trained to give information•Data protection/back-up (on and off site)

Challenges

Getting the resources to hotels- affordable, relevant, able to be customized

Allocating manpower Providing access to specialists Training - first aid, CPR , rescue skills, HIMS Auditing and self audit templates Keeping items up to date- the routine aspect of

maintaining the system once established.(audit) Consistency- hotel to hotel (preferably across the

community)

What are the gaps?We all expect to be safe when we travel.

Hotels and Resorts have the resources to become resilient and contribute more to the community as they have vast resources in terms of equipment, expertise and human resources.

Hotel Resilient aims to use some of those resources, skill and potential in a new direction.

Following on from that…

Recommendations from the Side event on “Hotel Resilient – Strengthening the Resilience of the Tourism Sector” yesterday included :-

Collaborate with the hotel community to develop systematic standards and tools for hotels to access to strengthen their resilience and work toward expanding the program into the broader community.

THE AVERAGE MAN DOES NOT WANT TO BE FREE. HE SIMPLY WANTS TO BE SAFE. H. L. MENCKEN