Summary
People feel safer around armed police, mainly if they see them as a response to heightened security. Recently, it has been tough to turn a blind eye to the barrage of news reports on gun violence. Distressing events around mass shootings tend to rock headlines around the globe, including incidences of police shootings, gang violence, and domestic violence that involve guns (Hemenway, 36). Exposure to gun violence and hearing about it can cause trauma and symptoms of post-traumatic disorders. The tendency of gun violence creates a great deal of fear among people on exposure to people carrying firearms, mostly at airports where there are many people. In a country that is prone to gun violence, like the United States, tourists would be scared of the unconcealed guns that the police carry around, mainly in the airports (Hemenway, 36). The shock from shootings can adversely affect people; in children, it increases the levels of anger and withdrawal (Tasci, 27). Tourists exposed to gun violence or those who have read about it or watched it on television and social media are more likely to experience panic attacks at the sight of unconcealed guns carried by police.
The tourist may also develop stereotypical behavior concerning police officers carrying guns, which may scare them or even reduce the number of tourists visiting the country. Police carrying guns in the airports delegitimizes their role as community standard bearers. Most tourists have no connection to criminals or criminal activities and are usually scared of armed police, which they consider alien to their cultural frame of reference. Guns are a powerful symbol of possible violence and brutality (Tasci, 27). The guns carried by police, mainly in airports, undermine the perception of police as part of the common community. The stereotyping problem is worsened when violence and brutality are practiced in ways that are different from the expectations of an ordinary person, for example, by profiling people unfairly by race or religion.
The Tourism Goals, Culture & Vision of Abu Dhabi City In UAE
The vision of tourism in the United Arab Emirates is to improve Abu Dhabi’s international reputation by offering an exclusive experience for visitors and residents and creating the Emirates as a destination of leisure and distinct culture. The UAE’s mission is to promote the Emirates of Abu Dhabi and preserve the nation’s principles. At the same time, its core values focus on innovation, reliability, excellence, pro-activeness, collaboration and leadership, and trust. The UAE’s mission is fueled by considering the landscape of the Emirates, its heritage, and its language (Department of Culture and Tourism, 2). The mission puts a special focus on cultural richness and modernity and highlights the lasting traditions of innovation and hospitality.
Based on the UAE’s mission and values, several steps are taken to maintain and create an environment that unlocks the full potential of tourism. The efforts are channeled towards sustained investments and coordination of efforts towards promoting tourism. The tourism board has been active in public awareness against the misuse of weapons. The police are also trained to handle gun violence cases (Department of Culture and Tourism, 2). The Tourism and culture department has employed plans to increase the labor force numbers in the UAE in line with the government’s vision. Various comprehensive plans have been put in place to increase UAE citizen participation.
Airport Practices to Promote Tourism and Gun Control
Tourism is vital in the modern-day economy because it helps boost economic development and the growth of the business sector. Aviation ports accommodate most of the holiday vacation traffic, and the industry’s subsequent growth brings about aviation’s essential growth (Bhattarai, 54). Airports play a vital role in encouraging tourism, and security, service, and infrastructure are vital in boosting tourism. One of the best airports that promote tourism worldwide is the Tel-Aviv Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. The Ben Gurion Airport is the largest in Israel. The core values of Ben Gurion Airport are innovation and service, compassion, and traveling with passion (Bhattarai, 54). Israel is the destination of many tourists the airport is extensively invested in maintaining the security of tourists. The Israeli government has also implemented measures to help govern gun violence, creating a good tourism environment.
Transport strategies and decisions of states make considerable differences in tourist destinations, for example, the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. By rationalizing the aspect of distance, tourists can now access the most remote areas by measuring distance in terms of hours. The core values of the airport are service to people, transparency with corporate social responsibility, promoting the continuation of learning, communication and participation, and security precaution and safety(Bhattarai, 54). The Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok aims at service delivery revenue generation and safety, creating a suitable environment for tourism to prosper. The Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok has developed management strategies and corporate development that build community participation and encourage tourism (Bhattarai, 54). The most vital strategy the airport developed is stakeholder engagement involving various participants. The participants include the police service, who are encouraged to reduce the prescience of firearms around people at the airport.
Works Cited
Bhattarai, Keshav, and Dennis Conway. “Impacts of Economic Growth, Transportation, and Tourism on the Contemporary Environment.” Advances in Asian Human-Environmental Research, 2020, pp. 563–662.
Department of Culture And Tourism. “Our Vision, Mission, and Values.” Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, Web.
Hemenway, David, and Eliot Nelson. “The Scope of the Problem: Gun Violence in the USA.” Current Trauma Reports, vol. 6, Web.
Tasci, Asli D.A., and Sevil Sönmez. “Lenient Gun Laws, Perceived Risk of Gun Violence, and Attitude towards a Destination.” Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, vol. 13, 2019, pp. 24–38.