Summary

Assessing and Preventing Violence in National and International   Recreational Settings for Young People

Project description
There is increasing demand among the European youth population to experience nightlife abroad, facilitated by factors such as cheap airfares and increased access to information on international entertainment opportunities. Recent evidence suggests that, compared with their behaviour at home, young people’s risk taking in the forms of alcohol and drug use and risky sexual behaviour increases when holidaying abroad. However, little is currently known about violence associated with nightlife tourism or the practices developed across Europe to prevent such violence. The purpose of this study is to assess the reality and determinants of violence (including prevalence, risk factors, problems, preventive measures, legislation and health issues) involving tourists in recreational nightlife settings in a typical Mediterranean holiday resort (Balearic Islands), compared with violence in similar settings in tourists’ countries of residence (in Britain or Germany). We will examine and evaluate the different types of intervention developed to manage youth violence in national settings and tourist destinations (legislative, health, police and nightlife industry led interventions) and will make proposals for improvement.

Scope
With the results of this research, a guide-line will be produced,  and policy recommendations measures for preventing violence in young tourist nightlife settings.
Policy makers, local authorities, consulates, and local recreational industry will be made aware on the magnitude of this phenomenon (violence in tourist resorts among youngsters), and receive information about the results of research, in order to improve and promote a safer & healthier nightlife.

Timetable
This is a two years project, starting in February 2007 until February 2009. It has been co financed by the Directorate General of Justice, Freedom and Security, within the Daphne Program II.

Procedures
The Project involves three European countries, selected because of the massive (young) tourism flow in between them: Germany, UK and Spain.

Ethnographic research will be conducted in the cities of Liverpool, Berlin, and Balearic Islands. Key informants such as police, consulates, emergency services and nightlife staff ( Djs, waitress, door staff) will be interviewed, in order to asses the local situations.
A survey will be conducted in Palma & Ibiza airports, to young German, British (main visitors) and Spanish tourists (from 15 to 30 years, Nº subjects= 3003).
Interviews and survey models are available on this page. 
This means that the present research combines qualitative and quantitative sources of intervention, which allows a multidisciplinary approach and analysis of the situation.
 

Results

1) Quantitative and qualitative review of youth nightlife violence in national and tourist recreational nightlife resorts and the role of international youth tourism in such violence.
2) New data examining young people’s behaviour while at home and abroad in recreational settings in relation to violence and other related behaviours; and about the recreational context and existing preventive measures.
3) An analysis of the present interventions developed to reduce youth violence in national and international settings which examines effectiveness and cost effectiveness issues where data are available, and the maturity of networks in each area for addressing such issues.
4) An analysis of the role played by the recreational industry in relation to violence and the possibilities to generate preventive interventions.
5) An overall report bringing together all of the above to formulate models of good practice, examine how better local, national and international networks can be developed and examine the role that existing structures can play in implementing recommendations.
6) A guideline addressed to policy makers, local authorities, tourist operators, recreation industry, criminal justice agencies, health services and other key agencies.
7)To collect information on all of the above as well as develop a network for future violence prev.

Diffusion
Diffusion of results will be continual during and after the Project. Communications, reports guidelines and recommendations will be published and posted on the web in several languages in addition to scientific publications and presentations at professional meetings.