The Tourism industry is deeply concerned about the effect of crime, both real and perceived, on the growth of tourism in the country. The Industry is no longer happy to remain quiet on this subject and is working with government to find more lasting solutions to ensuring greater safety and security for tourists and visitors to the country.
The TBCSA is tackling the issue of crime in four main areas:
1. Crime prevention
a. How is industry linking with community policing forums
b. How are private security firms being used
c. What best practice models can we follow - locally and internationally
d. Lobbying government to ensure tangible steps are taken in relation to crime prevention in tourism hubs and in peak seasons
2. Safety Communication and Incident Perception Management
a. Provision of agreed standard messaging for the industry to use
b. Agreement on where the private sector be of help in spreading a positive message of tourism safety
c. An agreed protocol on how we respond to an incident - what we say, how we say it and agreement on when it becomes a national incident
3. Victim Support
a. Setting an industry standard to follow
b. Looking at possible training for our front-line hospitality staff
c. Protocol and SOP for industry to follow
4. Monitoring
a. Developing a system and programme to monitor the statistics on crime against tourists
b. Use research to provide industry information on - crime hotspots, typical tourist scams, alerts,
also able to contextualize the % of tourism crime in bigger picture
Current approved tourist industry messaging on safety and security:
Tourist industry instructions in case of a crime
If a tourist is a victim of crime of any kind, the following is the industry protocol:
- Assign a competent staff member to manage and be a key contact for the victim during the process and procedures which follow
- Assist the tourist in reporting the crime to the local Police and getting the case number assigned for insurance claims
- Assist the tourist in contacting family or friends to support them during this time
- In cases of violent crimes the incident should also be reported to SA Tourism so that it can be dealt with internationally if required and through the Department of Foreign Affairs
- Offer counselling to the victim (provided by the SAPS or by private contracted counselling service)
- As caring hosts offer some form restitution or added value where viable.
HAVE YOUR SAY:
WHAT IS NEEDED TO IMPROVE THE PERCEPTION OF SOUTH AFRICA AS A DESTINATION MARRED BY CRIME?
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