Travelling Safely in an Unsafe World–A Shared Responsibility

Tourism is one of the world’s largest industry drivers of growth, development and employment. The industry has in the past displayed an inherent sensitivity to adversity but has gradually taken on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) principles that increasingly focus on collaboration and partnerships to minimise hazard and disaster impacts. Although more common and visible, potential hazards however extend beyond the geophysical and meteorological exposure of natural hazards. The world was to an extent unprepared for the sweeping impacts of COVID-19. DRR strategies developed to protect lives and ensure safety, have had unplanned consequences of destroying livelihoods and economies globally. In mitigating disasters, we face the implications and responsibility to avoid causing secondary disasters.