Tourist Safety and Security: Implementing Effective Measures in Philippine Tourism

Management"

Introduction
The study background, scope problem, purpose and importance is
presented in this chapter

Background of the Study

In the realm of tourism, the safety and security of tourists constitute the
dependent variable. Tourist safety and security involve safeguarding visitors from
potential risks and ensuring their well-being during their stay. The general problem
lies in the dynamic nature of tourism, where evolving challenges and uncertainties
necessitate effective measures to guarantee a secure environment for tourists.

As Pizam and Mansefeld (2006) argue, the key to a favorable and satisfying
development of tourism are the three basic principles called peace, safety and
security. As the travel and tourism industry is among the largest and fastest growing
industries in the world, it is not easy to maintain these principles (Floyd et. al., 2003).
Santana (2003) as well as Valencia and Crouch (2008) argue that the tourism
industry, especially nowadays, is more susceptible and fragile to any incidents
related to safety and security than ever. They argue that events, such as natural
disasters, terrorist attacks, all crime related activities as well as epidemic plagues
often have a rapid and straight impact on the industry. The very fact that people all
over the world are interconnected through the world wide web, makes it possible to
easily exchange, gain and spread information. This constant and easy access to all
kinds of media and news, does not only change the image of several destinations, it
also changes the consumer’s attitudes and perceptions towards these regions and
finally influences the consumption behavior (Valencia and Crouch, 2008)

Ashley and Mitchell (2005) argue that particularly in the case of Africa, tourism is one
of the main providers to a successful development of the countries economies as
well as an important issue for poverty reduction. As safety and security are important
aspects for the consumers of tourism services, any kind of threat related to the
verification of theses aspects present significant obstacles to the destination image,
the tourist arrivals as well as the host communities and therefore it Is 9extremely
important to ensure and maintain a secure and safe environment for travelers.
(Pizam and Mansfeld, 2006)
Setting of the study

This study entitled “Tourist safety and security: Implementing effect of

measures in the Philippines tourism management" will be conducted in the Division
of Davao del Sur, Region XI, Philippines, specifically in the University of Mindanao.
In order to improve the quality of life for those it serves, the University of Mindanao is
dedicated to leadership, a culture of excellence, and the development of young
people into responsible citizens.

Theoretical Framework

Abraham Maslow came to the fore with his “Hierarchy of Requirements

Theory” in 1943. First of all, if a person is hungry, the primary need for that person is
to satisfy his hunger, which has been described as "the strongest need". The theory
of Maslow's is composed of five categories, including physiological needs, safety and
security needs, belonging needs, self-esteem needs, and self-actualization needs.
Additionally, according to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory, the concept of
security is defined as a person's need to feel safe and secure. The person must be
safe in an environment where there is no security threat.
Furthermore, Maslow observed different human communities and noticed that the
average families who had completed their physiological needs wanted to live in a
safe area, have work safety, have financial income to meet their basic needs, and
have insurance opportunities. At last, terrorism has reached a global level, and crime
rates have increased due to income inequality. Compared to the period in which
Maslow made these determinations, it is clear that the importance of the
determinations made now will be intensified. (Gurhan, 2021)

Statement of the Problem

The study is generally aimed at investigating the current state of tourist security and
safety in popular travel destinations.
Specially, it seeks to answer the following questions:
1. What are the key security challenges faced by tourists in popular travel
destinations in terms of:
1.1 crime
1.2 Cybersecurity
1.3 Transportation
3. How secure are the transportation systems within the destination, including public
transportation and taxis?
4. What precautions should tourists take to minimise their risk of becoming victims of
crime or scams?
5. What steps are being taken to address cybersecurity risks and protect tourists'
personal information and financial data?