Tourism is the largest and fastest growing industry in the world with greater numbers of people traveling both nationally and internationally than ever before. The importance of tourism to the economy is overwhelmingly significant, and the effects of a crisis can have devastating and long-range impacts for destinations, as well as the nation’s economy.

The level of preparedness for natural and human-induced disasters is of increasingly significant concern for government and the private sector. In addition, public consciousness about safety, security, and crisis management have been dramatically heightened because of recent catastrophic events. Given the economic magnitude and the critical importance of the tourism industry, it is imperative for state and local governments to focus on prudent levels of preparedness and recovery efforts for the travel & tourism industry. Proactive measures such as development of Tourism Crisis Management Plans that strategically emphasize Communication & Training, Visitor Evacuation, and Economic Recovery will alleviate negative social and economic impacts.

The Tourism Crisis Management Institute (TCMI) was established in 2007 to assist the industry with comprehensive tourism crisis management initiatives. The Institute is housed within the Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute, and is also affiliated with other allied academic disciplines at the University of Florida.

Sincerely,
Lori Pennington-Gray, Ph.D.
Director, Tourism Crisis Management Institute