Silent Consequences of Security. The impact of security policies in tourism contexts.

Abstract

Terrorism is affecting all societies and industries. As tourism is implemented throughout the world it has become endangered by its consequences. Security policies are at the centre of the fight against such threat inducing fear from a customer perspective as well as with regards to sustainability risks for stakeholders. Moreover, the impact of policies implemented to counter terrorism on hosts and guests’ relationships needs to be addressed. Using the work of post-structuralist Michel Foucault, this thesis focuses on meaning creation, as well as the power relations between actors in the context of tourism experiences. It aims to understand the direct impact of security policies on the meaning creation between actors and to analyse their consequences on the acceptance of tourism in a given destination. Current security policies are increasing unbalanced power relations between hosts and guests, along with the potential alienation of locals towards their identity. Paradoxically, this discourse is creation is re-creating a prolific context for violent political group. Subsequently transforming current security policies into a medium of propagation for these groups’ political agenda. This thesis argues that society and the tourism industry in particular need to re-think the scope of security for a better fulfilment of hosts and guests needs. This will enable a long-term pattern of terrorism prevention by focusing on the root causes of terrorism instead of fixing its symptoms.