Don’t panic in a crisis
Businesses have been warned not to panic during a crisis and instead to communicate with speed and honesty.
The advice came at a meeting organised by the Tourism Society, where industry experts and tourism professionals discussed how best to respond to disasters.
Crisis management expert Mary Lynch advised companies to “take a holistic view” of what might affect tourists in a crisis and to ensure co-operation from the responsible authorities.
Firms were advised not to panic, to establish the facts and form a hand-picked advisory team. Effective communication was also seen as very important.
Staff and websites should be constantly updated and the media should be given positive news.
“Concentrate on what you can do, not what you can’t and begin your long-term recovery plan as soon as the crisis has officially ended,” said a spokesperson for the Tourism Society.
VisitBritain communications director Sandie Dawe said the industry could avoid exacerbating a crisis through good management.
“The actual event is usually less harmful than the fear it creates,” she said.
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