Norway has had a well-developed system for public safety for several years. Now researchers warn that tourists are often an overlooked group in emergency preparedness planning.

“Tourists think about new experiences when they arrive in a new country, not about the risk of natural disasters or crises”,says Professor Jaziar Radianti at the University of Agder.
In a new study, she points out that we should regard tourists as a vulnerable group on a par with children, young people, and the old. This, she argues, is because of language barriers, lack of knowledge about local hazards and alert systems, and cultural differences.
“Such barriers can act as situational disabilities, creating temporary limitations that arise from individuals´ environments or circumstances, preventing them from performing normal tasks”, Radianti says.

Preparedness for tourists

Although the new comprehensive preparedness white paper covers several areas of public safety, preparedness is primarily directed towards citizens. Tourists’ needs must be assessed more thoroughly, Radianti believes.
She proposes several measures to make preparedness more accessible to tourists, including apps featuring maps of shelters and warning systems, as well as proactive information campaigns in central locations such as airports and hotels. The information must be available in multiple languages.

“Norwegians, especially younger generations, know little about where shelters are located and what equipment they should bring. This applies even more so to tourists. In a crisis, time is crucial, and uncertainty can cost lives”, she says.

Differences in preparedness

In another study to be published in Spring 2025, Radianti and colleagues have examined how different groups understand and respond to preparedness situations.

The results show major differences between countries. Estonia, which borders Russia, has introduced extensive measures to label and map shelters. Countries such as Germany have no national strategy to inform the population about where they should seek shelter in the event of an air raid attack.

"We also see that many people rely heavily on mobile phones and the internet for information. The problem is that the technology will not always be available in a crisis. If the mobile network goes down while sheltering, most people are helpless", she says.

Dangerous cultural differences

Radianti emphasises that tourists are particularly vulnerable also because they are unfamiliar with Norwegian conditions and the potential dangers that exist here.

"I have seen instances where tourists swim in ice-cold lakes in spring because they do not realise the water is still dangerously cold despite the weather feeling warm and sunny", she says.

What we consider safe in our home country cannot necessarily be transferred to new circumstances. This applies, for example, to forests, which in Norway are viewed as playgrounds and hiking areas, but which in other countries can be life-threatening.

Radianti urges Norwegian authorities to include tourists more fully in preparedness plans.

"We must think proactively and ensure that everyone in Norway, regardless of background, has access to vital information in a crisis", she says.