Tourist destination safety and security: Key attributes and framework

The aim of this research is to understand the key attributes for tourist destination safety and security in Kata Kinabalu and the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) areas in Sabah. The research objectives explored perceptions, factors, reactions, measures and suggestions. The research design is sequential exploratory mixed methods. The respondents were the tour operators, tourists and local communities. The findings in the data analysis revealed holistic findings for knowledge, methodological and practical contribution. The study reveals that the tour operators, tourists and local communities' perception of tourist destination safety and security illustrates the positive relationship amongst themselves on their level of familiarity and favorability of the tourist destination's safety and security. Eventhough Sabah is perceived as a safe, harmonious and friendly tourist destination and the issue of safety and security may not need be addressed to a great extent, however, this research will contribute to strengthen the safety and security concern. The implication on tourist destination safety and security and framework could act as a useful guideline and this thesis would be deemed useful to understand the tourist destination safety and security for the government and stakeholders. Safety and security is important for the tourism industry as tourists will avoid going to insecure or unsafe destination. As tourism grows, increased movement of tourists will be in abundance as tourism plays an important industry for any country. Hence, in order to safeguard the movement of the tour operators, tourists and the local communities, the key attributes and framework for tourist destination safety and security must be in place, implemented and enforced. There is a systematic understanding of how individuals, tour operators, tourists and the local communities perceive tourist destination safety and security and competence to reduce and manage the risks. The patterns of global safety and security have evolved tremendously with the increasing number of terrorist attacks, epidemics, natural disasters, kidnappings and murders. Thus, it raises the necessity to revise the understanding on the relationship between tourism, safety and security and the tourist destination safety and security measures. Notwithstanding the above, immediate examination of the causes of the incidents and the reasons for its repeated occurrence should be carried out. Reliance on the security forces would be a thing of the past if everyone, be they the tour operators, tourists themselves and the local communities, places their own safety and security themselves. This should be uppermost on their minds and to be on the watch out for any signs of unsafe and insecure premonition or happenings. Evaluating safety and security practices provides an understanding of how much scientific techniques and contemporary approaches the authorities are using and to implement in their day-to-day operations. This information assisted in the development of a workable and suitable policy and framework for sustainable safety and security issues at the tourist destination and provide the basis for recommendations of the most feasible way to counter kidnappings, shootings, crimes or terrorist attacks