“Destination Crisis Management and Operational Response for Travel” will run from 09:30 to 17:00 at ABTA’s headquarters, 30 Park Street, London SE1 9EQ. The event comes as tourism businesses continue to face geopolitical tensions, extreme weather and other operational risks.
FCDO perspective and emerging travel risks
The conference will include an overview of major crisis events during 2026 and an outlook for 2027. Representatives of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) will address travel advice and government priorities.
The programme will also examine emerging threats to traveller safety. Another session will focus on practical communication and coordination with the FCDO Global Response Centre during emergencies.
Participants will consider how travel businesses can strengthen their response procedures before an incident takes place. The agenda will cover both immediate operational decisions and longer-term recovery planning.
Middle East crises and natural disasters
One section will examine crisis management in destinations affected by continuing instability in the Middle East. Sessions will look at business continuity and recovery planning in complex operating environments.
A separate case study will focus on natural disasters. It will cover preparation and response to events such as earthquakes, extreme weather and wildfires.
The emphasis will be on how tourism organisations can anticipate disruption and improve internal planning. Participants will also examine how to maintain operations when destinations face prolonged uncertainty.
Legal duties and crisis simulations
Legal responsibilities will form another major part of the conference. Sessions will examine duty of care, compensation obligations and passenger protection.
The programme will also provide guidance on simulation testing. Travel businesses will be encouraged to review emergency plans and test how teams would respond to realistic crisis scenarios.
Another session will address serious incidents involving major injuries or loss of life. The focus will include administrative procedures and support for affected families.
Crisis planning as part of tourism governance
The event reflects the growing importance of travel crisis management within everyday tourism operations. For travel organisers, agencies and destination bodies, crisis planning increasingly forms part of wider corporate governance and risk management.
The ABTA programme will therefore focus on protecting travellers while also supporting business continuity. It will also examine how effective preparation can help organisations protect their reputation and maintain operations during disruption.
By combining government insight, legal guidance, case studies and practical simulation methods, the conference aims to give tourism professionals tools they can apply directly to their own crisis planning and operational response.
