The role of tourism in disaster recovery

Marrakech is a city close to the heart of many travellers. We all have memories of nights in Djemaa El Fna and days wandering the city’s mosques and gardens. The nearby Atlas Mountains are home to incredible trekking and hospitable mountain villages. When Morocco was struck by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in September, an outpouring of emotion reverberated around the world. Within hours appeals were launched and pledges made. The global tourist community rallied around one of their own.

This year has seen many tourist destinations afflicted by environmental disasters. Wildfires ravaged Hawaii and Greece, and Turkiye suffered a catastrophic earthquake. The recovery of these communities and countries will take months and years, and some people will never recover.

While these high profile disasters dominated the headlines, less touristed countries have also suffered. Two days after the Moroccan earthquake, the port city of Derna in Eastern Libya was rocked by Storm Daniel. The ferocity of the storm crushed dam walls and unleashed catastrophic flooding. Earlier in the year, Cyclone Mocha ravaged Myanmar and Bangladesh, and Typhoon Doksuri flooded northeastern China. Meanwhile, when Greece was burning, so was Algeria. The earthquake that struck Turkiye also hit Syria, and in the last month Afghanistan has been shaken by multiple quakes.

All these communities and countries will walk different paths to recovery, some aided by national governments and international donors, others reliant on their own resources. As the recovery efforts continue, what role, if any, is there for tourism? How do highly touristed destinations fare compared to less touristed countries? To help explore these and other questions, I spoke with James Willcox founder of Untamed Borders about his experiences operating in some of the least visited corners of the world.

When to go?

The first 12 months after a disaster sees the largest dip in visitor numbers. This is unsurprising, given the risk averse nature of many tourists, negative media coverage, and potential damage to communal infrastructure. This drop in tourist numbers is consistent, for both environmental and manmade disasters.

While tourism in the immediate aftermath of a disaster is all advised, tour companies can play important roles. As James explains, the logistical capacity of tour companies can often support aide efforts, as can their intimate knowledge of communities, and local contacts and resources. However, the most effective way to support communities, in the short term, is through fundraising. The 2010 floods in Pakistan devastated many regions of the country, including some that Untamed Borders operates in. Funds raised by Untamed Borders were distributed through local networks and provided an important lifeline for the affected communities. Additionally, following the US exit from Afghanistan in 2021, fundraising efforts supported individuals and communities who were left without work, including many women.

While these short terms supports are important, it is in the long term that James sees the greatest role for tourism and tour companies. Tourism programs that support minority groups, work across ethnic and clan divides, and have positive environmental effects are critical in building community cohesion and resilience, strengths that will be drawn on in times of disaster.

Afghanistan’s first ski club, supported by Untamed Borders in 2011.

Tourism efforts in post disaster environments are also promoted by national governments. These campaigns have been successful for countries such as Vanuatu, Nepal, and the Philippines. After Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines in 2013, tourism bounced back quicker than expected. This was due, in part, to travellers visiting regions that were not affected. With over 7,000 islands, the Philippines had many areas unaffected. The government seized the opportunity to promote other regions and activities, and boosted numbers rapidly. Additionally, following earthquakes in Turkiye and New Zealand, tourists were urged to visit unaffected areas, and indeed visitor numbers spiked in Istanbul this year. Meanwhile, in the wake of the Rhodes wildfires, the Greek Prime Minister urged tourists to visit other parts of the country, and not to stay away. As an extra incentive, evacuated tourists have been offered free accommodation if they return next summer.

Volunteer Tourism

It is a natural human reaction to want to help following a disaster, especially for a place or people close to your heart. Volunteer tourism, or voluntourism, is often pilloried, and there are numerous examples of it being done poorly. However, when done ethically and responsibly it can play an important role in recovery. Following the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, teams of international volunteers contributed to repairing critical infrastructure including schools and small dams. This allowed the communities to focus on their individual recovery and return quicker than otherwise to education and farm work. Furthermore, following Typhon Haiyan in the Philippines, several tour operators offered self-funded trips for people with specialist skills. These volunteers helped with everything from medical support to construction work.

Volunteers from World Youth International reconstructing a school in Nepal, 2015

Voluntourism is most effective when people bring specialist skills, and the projects help to boost the livelihoods of affected communities. A hand up, rather than a handout. Often, volunteer tourists will travel in the country after their projects, providing a double economic benefit for the country.

Local vs. Global

Land clearing disasters, such as floods, fires, cyclones and earthquakes, often lead to disputes over land ownership. In popular tourist destinations, such as Vanuatu and Bali, and following the 2004 tsunami in Thailand, Maldives and Sri Lanka, national governments and foreign businesses moved swiftly, acquiring formerly private land and developing new tourism infrastructure. Known as ‘disaster capitalism,’ these land grabs severely hamper recovery and often cause further, ongoing trauma. Residents of Maui, recovering from devastating wildfires, now face similar concerns, as they confront what is known as ‘climate gentrification,’ whereby lower socio-economic communities are displaced by wealthy developers. The fate of uninsured or undocumented communities can often be overlooked and ignored in post-disaster environments. There are some easy ways to ensure your tourist dollars support recovery efforts and stay in the community and country. When shopping and eating out, visit local markets and restaurants; stay at locally owned hotels rather than international chains; and book tours with local operators or companies that employ local staff.

Tour companies and their support for local staff is critical in times of emergency and disaster. Following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, many of the Untamed Borders team, including Fatimah, Afghanistan’s first female tour guide, were left without work. Some chose to leave the country, including Fatimah who now lives in Italy and runs virtual tours, while others remained. Untamed Borders raised more than $US80,000 to support programs run by Afghan Aid, and to provide relief for their teams of tour guides, drivers, and hoteliers. Tours to Afghanistan have since resumed, albeit in a different format to how they once operated.

Dark Tourism

Dark Tourism, not to be confused with disaster tourism, remains contentious. While not a new phenomenon, Dark Tourism has grown in popularity in recent decades. Notable war sites, genocide museums, concentration camps and the 9/11 memorial are common Dark Tourist attractions.

In some circumstances, Dark Tourism can aide the psychological recovery of the communities and provide an economic boost for the tourism industry. A study from Aceh, Indonesia, found that tsunami monuments and memorials have helped boost national and international tourism. Aceh was not a typical tourist destination in the archipelago however has boosted its popularity through Dark Tourism initiatives. Meanwhile, in the years following the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, tourists could watch the destruction of derelict buildings and join walking tours of the affected areas. Dark Tourism is also prominent throughout Bosnia & Herzegovina, and is an emerging market in Wuhan, China, and parts of Ukraine, where tourists can visit sites affected by the Russian invasion.

Tours available in Christchurch, New Zealand, 2013

Planning your journey

When planning your travels, for 2024 and beyond, consider visiting countries that are recovering from emergencies or disasters. As shown, the first 12 months are the toughest for those who work in the industry, so any extra support is always appreciated. In 2022 I visited Sri Lanka, during the worst economic downturn in the country’s modern history. Everyone I spoke with, from hoteliers to tuk-tuk drivers, cricket fans and protestors, were overjoyed at tourists visiting. For many countries, tourism is a crucial economic lifeline, and the sooner it returns to pre-disaster levels the better. As communities walk the long road to recovery, tourism dollars, whether direct or indirect, can play an important role in helping people back on their feet.

Skiing in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush

Thanks to James Wilcox and the team at Untamed Borders for sharing their experiences. For information on Untamed Borders tours visit their website at untamedborders.com.