Residential tourism model implemented in tourist destinations has increased earthquake risk
- Date:
- July 24, 2015
- Source:
- Asociación RUVID
- Summary:
- Researchers warn that "because of real estate speculation and the management of public budgets based on income from the real estate business, seismic risk has been forgotten." Taking as reference the town of Torrevieja, where one of the biggest earthquakes in the province of Alicante took place in 1829 with more than 389 dead and 209 wounded, the author has published an article on seismic risk in tourist destinations since "the technological solutions proposed in its Local Action Plan against earthquakes does not seem enough."
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Antonio Aledo, Professor of Sociology at the University of Alicante, warns that "because of real estate speculation and the management of public budgets based on income from the real estate business, seismic risk has been forgotten." Taking as reference the town of Torrevieja, where one of the biggest earthquakes in the province of Alicante took place in 1829 with more than 389 dead and 209 wounded, the professor has published an article on seismic risk in tourist destinations since "the technological solutions proposed in its Local Action Plan against earthquakes does not seem enough," he says. Professor Antonio Aledo ensures that the population, "including foreign residents and tourists, should have more information about how to behave in the face of an earthquake."
As indicated by the professor, "the residential tourism model implemented in Torrevieja has not only created economic risk by the construction crisis and social risk (it is the poorest municipality in Spain according to the National Institute of Statistics), but it has also increased seismic vulnerability." Aledo suggests the strict application of seismic-resistant construction measures and the recovery of the model developed after the earthquake of 1829 by engineer José Larramendi.
The paper "The unquestionability of risk: social vulnerability and earthquake risk in tourist destinations," published in Journal Cuadernos de Turismo, plans a new strategy of prevention and mitigation actions aimed at identifying and designing specific measures for vulnerable groups. Thus, one of its fundamental premises is better information and training on the appropriate behaviour in case of earthquakes for the general population, including foreign residents and tourists.
"Certainly a key factor to this new approach to seismic risk in tourist destinations is its inclusion in the current and future management of the city; the preventive approach through social communication; and the implementation of risk preparation plans to build up security and confidence in the citizenship" adds the author.
Story Source:
Materials provided by Asociación RUVID. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
- Antonio Aledo, Samia Sulaiman. La incuestionabilidad del riesgo: vulnerabilidad social y riesgo sísmico en municipios turísticos. Journal Cuadernos de Turismo, July 2015
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