The Responsibility of Tourism Enterprises for Safe Tourism: From Formal Compliance to a Culture of Care

Abstract

Tourist safety is increasingly shaped not only by public security institutions but also by the everyday decisions of tour operators, travel agencies, hotels, guides, transport providers and destination managers. This paper examines how tourism enterprises can move from formal compliance with safety rules toward a practical culture of care. Drawing on international research, UN Tourism principles and the regulatory experience of Uzbekistan, the paper argues that safety should be embedded in product design, staff behaviour, communication and post-incident learning. Particular attention is paid to the duty of care, risk communication, coordination between tourism actors and the economic value of trust. The paper concludes with practical measures that tourism enterprises can adopt without turning the tourist experience into an overly controlled or uncomfortable process.