An Introduction to Tourism Policing and a Brief History

Chapter 1 explores what tourism policing and private security are and how they differ from other forms of policing. The chapter provides a brief historical overview of American tourism policing in the late twentieth century and twenty-first century. The chapter addresses the similarities and differences between tourism policing and community policing, how they influence each other and where they separate. Finally, this chapter provides a literary overview of the pertinent literature that regarding tourism policing and addresses the lack of specific material in this field.

Tourism Cities and Locales

In other chapters, we have examined some of the academic and political issues that impact American tourism policing and professional security agents. This chapter is a bit different. Instead, it examines several tourist cities in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe. The locations studied are not always the largest tourism centers, but they represent a variety of tourism locales and as such serve as case studies for similar locations in other parts of the world. Another goal of this chapter is to learn not only how tourism security and tourism policing have impacted these non-American communities, but also some of the problems experienced by their security services.

Tourism Security in an Interconnected World Tourism Security in an Interconnected World

Tourism security differs from locale to locale and is highly culturally dependent. This chapter provides recipes for cultural tourism policing and gives examples of how miscommunications develop when cultural barriers are crossed.

Types of Tourism Policing

Chapter 5 examines the wide range of tourism security and tourism security professionals. It examines everything from aquatic tourism to nightclubs and shows how these sub-fields differ and relate to one another. It also examines the types of training required for tourism security and its many subfields. The chapter then focuses on issues of crowd management.

Private Security in Tourism

The great majority of this book focuses in on public security in the form of law enforcement. However, it would be a mistake not to consider private security as an essential part of “tourism policing”. Private security in many places around the world functions as either an adjunct to law enforcement or as a close ally to these public agencies.

How Tourism Policing Differs From Other Forms of Policing

Chapter 2 examines some of the ways that distinguish tourism policing and security services from other forms of policing and security. Tourism policing, at times called tourism-oriented policing and protection services (TOPPs) is a relatively recent sub-section of both private security and public policing. We use the term “policing” throughout the book to refer both to private professional security agents and to public law enforcement agents. Tourism policing recognizes that the visitor has different protection needs than do people who are in the general public or at their place of residence.

Tourism Policing in a Fourth Wave World

This chapter provides an overview of how technology will change the face of tourism and tourism policing and security. Based on the philosophy of Alvin Toffler, the chapter offers an overview as to where we have come from and how changes in economic production will impact the way tourism security is done in the future.

College Station

Chapter 7 is a case study of tourism policing in one medium-sized tourism and visitor-dependent community. As with all case studies, the reader can read from multiple perspectives. For example, the case study offers local descriptions and provides the reader with insights into the reality of a university-tourism city. On another level, the reader can use this case study as a generalizable example permitting the reader to see universal principles that are not only applicable to college station, but also to other locations around the world.

Tourism Policing in a University Setting

Chapter 6 examines the interplay between university students and the tourism industry and between the town and gown divide with regards to tourism. The chapter notes the sociological similarities between off-campus university life and its impact on both tourism and local economies. The chapter briefly touches upon study abroad programs and how US university police departments can aid students to be safe when traveling abroad.

Reviewing the Literature

Chapter three reviews more recently published literature concerning tourism policing. The chapter examines material both in English and Spanish. The reason that the chapter includes Spanish language articles is that Latin American nations have had to deal with numerous tourism security issues including: visitor protection issues, visitors' kidnappings, murder and monetary assault.