Tourist Safety and Law Enforcement: Insights from Local Businesses in Thamel, Kathmandu

Abstract

Safety and security law enforcement practices are essential for the sustainability of tourism. This study explored effect of police visibility on tourist safety and security in Thamel from tourism entrepreneurs' perception. The study used quantitative approach and cross-sectional survey design. Required data were collected from 229 randomly selected tourism entrepreneur through self-administered questionnaires (Cronbach's α=0.81). Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques such as correlation and regression model were used for analyzing data. The results indicate that majorities of the respondents considered the presence of law enforcement as a key priority. There was a strong positive correlation between visible policing and tourist satisfaction and moderate positive correlation between intention to revisit and visible policing. The results of regression analysis showed that the law enforcement visibility was significant for tourists' satisfaction. The study finds that visible policing has a direct effect on business confidence and destination competitiveness as a crime deterrent, and also as a symbolic reassurance mechanism. Policy implications are the need for specific deployment of uniformed personnel in areas where tourist numbers are high, training of the hospitality and cultural sensitivity of the police, investment in multilingual tourist police booths and strengthening inter-sectoral coordination of the government and private sector.