ABSTRACT
Privation is typified by a period of externally induced hardship that causes people to modify normal behaviour patterns. Some evidence exists that a short, sharp period of hardship produces a period of dramatically increased tourism consumption, while an extended period of hardship induces a much more cautious approach to tourism (Frechtling, 1982). Safety and security represent only part of the bundle of issues producing soft travel demand (TIA, 2003, 2002; TBR, 2002; McKercher & Hui, forthcoming). Concerns about the economy, financial scandals, falling consumer confidence and consumer concerns about not having enough time or money to travel may also exacerbate social crises. As discussed below, SARS was as much a social crisis as it was a medical crisis.
