SECURITY AS A FACTOR OF COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN TOURISM

Security and protection demands in tourism industry are very high due to the vulnerability of its infrastructure in light of security challenges and threats. Actual threats appear in the form of endangering the values that compose a train of products and services in tourism - from the moment of buying/selling a package tour, transfer of passengers and luggage to their destination, to stay in hotels and meeting different needs of tourists. This work addresses the criminal, terrorist, and economic threats to hotels. The effects of these and other threats may endanger the foreign investments in tourism industry and the arrival of foreign tourists who, as the newest polls show, prioritize security factor in their selection of tourist destination. The hotel security issue is addressed in light of its preference when selecting tourism supply and services, which is an important indication of competitive advantage.