PLANNING FOR TOURISM SAFETY AND SECURITY

Planning for tourism safety and security requires

consideration of risks originating in four source areas: Human and institutional environment outside the tourism sector The tourism sector and related commercial sectors The individual traveller (personal risks) physical or environmental risks (natural, climatological, epidemiological

HUMAN AND INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT

The risks originating in the human and institutional

environment appear when visitors fall victim to:

Common delinquency (theft, pickpocketing, assault,

burglary, swindle, etc.)

Indiscriminate and targetted violence (such as rape)

and harassment
Organized crime (extorsion, white-slave trade,

coercion, etc.)

 Terrorism and unlawful interference (attacks against

state institutions and state vital interests, etc.), highjacking and hostage taking
Wars, social conflicts and political and religious unrest

Lack of public and institutional protection and respective services.

TOURISM AND RELATED SECTORS

Defects in safety standards in tourism establishments

(fire, construction errors, lack of anti-seismic protection Defects in sanitation and respect for sustainability of the environment Absence of protection against unlawful interference, crime and delinquency in tourism facilities Fraud in commercial treatment Non-compliance with contracts Personnel strikes

INDIVIDUAL TRAVELLERS
The travellers or visitors themselves may create

problems for their own safety and security and for their hosts as well. The causes may be: excesses and dangerous practices of tourists in sport and leisure activities, driving, food and drink Tourists previous health conditions which may deteriorate while travelling Visitors conflictive or inadequate behaviour with respect to resident populations or local laws Specific illicit or criminal activity (e.g. trafficking in illicit drugs) Visits to dangerous areas

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS

physical and environmental risks manifest if the

travellers: are unaware of the natural characteristics of the destination and their effects, in particular of its flora and fauna are not prepared from the medical viewpoint ( vaccinations, prophylaxis) do not take the necessary precautions in their eating and hygienic habits are exposed to emergencies (natural disasters, epidemics, etc.) arising from the physical environment.

 Perception of risks varies considerably among travellers,

and the relationship between specific risks and their impact on the actual travel propensity is not always straightforward.
A war situation claiming hundreds or thousands of lives in

the vicinity of a tourist destination may hurt less than an isolated terrorist act affecting a few individuals.
. Risks occurring in a geographically and especially

culturally more remote destination are likely to have a greater impact. Eventually, the travelling public is becoming psychologically hardened to the trouble spots of this kind.

 Safety and security concerns are here to stay, and the

world of tourism has to live with them as something normal and by no means extraordinary.
The tourism sector should be aware that it is a

sensitive area involving varying perception and approaches to risks, and is subject to distortion, manipulation and exaggeration beyond the actual situation.
Nonetheless, there are hard, non-negotiable facts and

standards about safety and security that are not difficult to establish and to which one must adhere as a sine qua non condition in tourism development for a better quality of life for all.

National responsibility
The tourism security program provides specialized

security training through workshops aimed at participants from both the public and private sectors, taking into consideration the realities and needs of individual countries and localitie.
The program also promotes public-private

partnerships.
The high visibility of these targets represents an

attractive opportunity for criminal or terrorist elements seeking to inflict serious economic and political impact by attacking them.

 According to a WTO Survey on the Security and

Protection of Travellers, Tourists and Tourism Facilities carried out between December, 1993 and April, 1994, national policy in tourism safety and security is usually the responsibility of the Ministry for Interior Affairs. The survey also revealed that there is a need to identify a clearer role and provide for more active involvement by NTAs in Safety and security issues.

Coordination is a fundamental aspect of organization for tourism safety and security, with: Other national government agencies and departments that are primarily concerned with this area; Tourism destination communities; Tourism industry representatives; and The media.

 With respect to tourism safety and security issues in

the context of a National Tourism Council, the NTA should: initiate and convene meetings; coordinate the Councils work; seek funding for the Council, where needed; commission and evaluate reports; prepare recommendations, and monitor the implementation of recommendations