Travel is up, and so is the world’s patience

Fancy a vacation right about now? You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t. Problem is, traveling for rest and relaxation is hard to come by these day, and none other than your fellow excursionists are to blame for that one.

We’re not talking about over-tourism, either. We’re talking about cringeworthy acts of petty crime, disruption to the peace, and overt mayhem some unscrupulous jetsetters are stirring up in destinations all over the world.

Is there a solution? Can anything be done to curtail these shenanigans? Truth is, balancing a welcoming vibe with sensible security has always been a fine line for the hottest tourist economies on Earth, but it’s one governments and businesses ought to invest in learning how to walk.

One of the biggest threats to travel security is locals’ exhaustion

Travel is one of those things that’s great when you’re the one doing it, but godawful when you’re feeling its effects at home. Local citizens in some of the world’s most sought-after vacation spots say they’re fed up with entitled out-of-towners running amuck in the streets.

And if you thought public discourse was where the tourism problem ended, you’d be wrong. It reaches all the way into politics, with some officials centering their campaigns around what to do with an unprecedented surge in visitors.

A growing consternation with vacationers has reached a fever pitch in some countries like Spain, where locals recently took to the streets with water guns to fend off sightseers from the Barcelona area. Incidents like these are likely to grow more common without a greater attention to security from governments, industry, and travelers themselves.

The government’s role in regulating travel and security

Some would say the less government, the better. Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple, especially when it comes to managing tourists. Nations and their leaders have a responsibility to protect their homelands, which requires screening inbound travelers, strongly enforcing local laws, and helping to provide a tourism infrastructure sustainable with a growing influx of visitors.

Screening

Screening is a quintessential function of every government. Fly into any airport from out of town, and you’re guaranteed to pass through security of some kind. Touch down in a country that’s not your own, and you’re sure to encounter robust port-of-entry requirements, including passport control, customs, and more.

Governments must keep these entry and exist protocols airtight to prevent terrorism and to keep would-be criminals from stirring conflict in the streets.

Enforcement

Enforcing the law is what most people think of when they think of government. Police and courts exist to deter crime and dole out reasonable sentences. But what happens if someone’s unfamiliar with the rules and regulations in play at their destination? Though rare, travelers do occasionally break laws out of ignorance. For example, it might shock you to learn that prostitution is illegal on the Vegas Strip, or that Russia, a country famous for its spirits strictly prohibits alcohol sales after 11pm in many of its cities.

Governments should take additional steps to educate incoming travelers on local laws particularly those that may seem to contradict the public narrative about the destination itself. They should also put a greater emphasis on de-escalation tactics, to prevent things from getting out of hand.

Infrastructure

Ask any sociologist, and they’ll tell you that when people get into crowds, all common sense goes out the window. Group behavior is a real phenomenon, and it often creates conditions perfect for undesirable outcomes like protest and civil unrest.

Governments have a duty to erect and maintain public infrastructure that can support throngs of people, which includes not only physical infrastructure, but also intangibles like staffing and other resources.

The private sector’s role in promoting a safer travel experience

Public sector institutions can’t be the only forces for change, if we want to see a safer travel experience for everyone. Local businesses and private economic drivers must also play their part. Companies ranging from hospitality to food service can do a great deal to enhance tourism, including beefing up their own security measures and innovating new ways to deal with pedestrian throughput.

Security

Though it might seem farfetched, corporations with their own security teams work wonders for the local tourism industry. In concert with local tourism boards, they’re able to quickly stand-up patrols that limit crime and positively influence travelers’ perceptions. They don’t need to be armed and uniformed security details, either. Something as simple as tighter control at bars and pubs could limit the number of violent, drunken outburst, or a plain clothes brigade down by the ocean could curtail beach-side petty theft.

Throughput

Lines. Nobody like them, and we all like standing in them even less. Industrial engineers constantly work with the private sector to innovate new ways of handling masses quickly and efficiently. Popular destinations like theme parks and ski resorts are scaling up their resources to better manage shuffling visitors from one place to another, and as globe-trotting continues to bounce back from Covid’s record lows, crowd management is a business that’s likely to keep on booming.

The individual’s role in managing their travel expectations and behaviors

Chiefly responsible for their behavior are travelers themselves. Vacations aren’t an invitation to act irresponsibly or disrespect local rules. They’re an opportunity to see incredible sites, rejuvenate yourself, and appreciate cultural differences between wherever you’re from and wherever you’re at. Security is an individual responsibility above all else, and maintaining a healthy degree of self-control will undoubtedly have the greatest impact on a safer travel experience for everyone.

Final thoughts on the state of travel security

Security is a shared responsibility between governments, businesses, and pedestrians (both local and visiting). Unfortunately, a failure from any one of those groups to pull their weight will introduce risk and the potential for chaos.

Chameleon works with organizations from all backgrounds to drum up sensible security plans, assess their vulnerabilities, and protect their constituencies. To learn more about how we can help you contribute to better travel security, email us at info@chameleonassociates.com.