Lesson 3. Political Aspects of the International Travel, Tourism, and Lodging

Hospitality Operations Management

into three sub-indexes of the Index:
Regulatory framework;
Business environment and infrastructure;
Human,

cultural, and natural resources.

GOVERNMENT HOTEL REGULATIONS

Tariffs and Trade;
International Monetary Fund;
International Hotel & Restaurant Association;
World Travel

& Tourism Council.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS DEALING WITH BARRIERS

level;
The environment and sustainable tourism.
EXAMPLES OF THE TYPES OF IH&RA

ISSUES

markets in harmony with the environment;
Reduce barriers to growth.

THE THREE

MAIN GOALS OF WTTC'S

of the economy;
Second, the local workforce must be educated and

trained to provide quality tourism products and services;
Third, to promote tourism interest abroad, government support is needed to establish national tourism promotion offices in other countries;
Fourth, only governments can provide for the issuance of visas for visitors and others through overseas consulates and embassies;
Fifth, international events important to tourism.

THE NEED FOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

obtain necessary approvals;
Providing government guarantees;
Passing legislation favorable to foreign investment;
Providing

for fair arbitration to settle disputes and conflicts that may require third-party intervention;
Providing adequate infrastructure;
Making available training for hotel workers or training incentives and allowances;
Sponsoring promotion of the visitor industry.

FOREIGN INVESTMENT INCENTIVES

surveys, and statistics;
Tourism promotion abroad;
Tourism planning and development;
International tourism promotion;
Regulation

and supervision of tourist enterprises;
Facilitation;
Tourist reception and information;
Tourism vocational training;
Preservation, protection, and use of historical, cultural, and handicraft resources;
Ecology and the environment.

NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZATIONS

deter travel to affected areas.
POLITICAL STABILITY

OF ASSESSING POLITICAL RISK

of public goodwill;
Financial strain;
Unproductive use of management's time;
Loss of employee

morale and support.

CRISIS MANAGEMENT

often exist in an international setting?
How do government hotel regulations

affect the lodging industry of various countries?
How do international organizations affect international travel? How do the agendas of the various international organizations relate to one another?
Why is government support of tourism and the lodging industry so critical? In what ways do governments support or undermine travel and tourism?
What is the focus or purpose of national tourism organizations? How is this different from international organizations?
What roles do international lodging chains play in developing countries? What sorts of conflicts are likely to arise between the chains and the host governments?
Why is political stability an essential element of tourism? How does political instability affect travel and investment decisions?
What are travel advisories? What factors might affect their objectivity?
Why is political risk difficult to assess? How might businesses reduce their vulnerability to political risk?
What is a crisis management plan? Why is it important?

QUESTIONS