ABSTRACT
The marketability of individual destinations and global tourism is vulnerable to sudden changes in market perceptions. Acts of man or nature can transform the reputation, desirability and marketability of the most popular tourism destinations overnight. For most international travellers, tourism is a discretionary act. Many countries have invested heavily in tourism and have acquired a high level of economic dependence on inbound tourism. A major determinant in a traveller's decision to visit a destination is the perception of safety and security. Specific events or a series of events may undermine these perceptions of a destination. The specific contingencies examined—war, terrorism, crime waves, epidemic and natural disasters—have devastating impacts on any community, region, state or nation. The field of destination recovery and restoration is an under-researched discipline within tourism studies and management practice. However regrettable, aircraft sometimes crash, cruise ships sink and hotels can be destroyed by natural disasters or through the deliberate or accidental actions of human beings.
