UNISDR, PATA and GIDRM develop strategies to strengthen the resilience of hotels

“The hotel industry in hazard prone areas of the world is very vulnerable to major setbacks from floods, storms and earthquakes. Such events can result in closure of resorts and have a significant impact on tourism and employment. The tourism industry has a very important role to play in encouraging disaster risk management at the local level”, said Margareta Wahlström, the head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) launching the report ‘Developing Strategies to Strengthen the Resilience of Hotels to Disasters’.

Together with UNISDR and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the GIDRM has carried out the market study that has found significant interest in standards that will assists hotel and resorts to reduce their risk to natural and technological hazards and also demonstrate the level of preparedness and safety of premises to potential clients, insurers and financers. Hotels, hotel and tourism associations, tour operators, insurance companies and relevant governmental agencies in Indonesia, the Maldives, Philippines and Thailand have been interviewed for the study. PATA CEO, Mario Hardy emphasises the need for standardised procedures in disaster risk management accepted by the industry as the Asia-Pacific region has been significantly affected by disasters in the recent past.

Cover photo: © GIZ