TOURISM CONSTRAINTS OF UMLAZI TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS ...

Another problem with lack ofeducation is that tourists need to be sensible, wellinfonnedand able to take precautions in order that they can make a contribution totheir safety while they are away from home.Lack of knowledge and awareness expose them to being victims of criminalactivities and other dangers. Ignorance can thus contribute to the fear of crimewhich will be discussed below.2.5.3 Fear of crimeFear ofcrime has long been a well documented issue. In many parts ofthe westernworld fear of crime has become a major social and political issue. In the UnitedStates of America, for example, in reaction to the considerable increase in crimeexperienced in the 1980s, the public began to demand greater relief for thosethreatened by crime.The attention ofacademics, researchers and policy makers shifted to the direct andindirect victims ofcrime. The focus ofresearch endeavours was then directed to theimpact ofcrime at community and individual level.The results ofthese studies has shown that fear ofcrime has a crippling effect onthe quality oflife ofcommunities. Fear ofcrime was found to be extending to theforced alteration of daily living habits as well as to the negative psychologicaleffects ofliving in a state ofconstant anxiety (Glanz., 1989).26, ,