Issues:
A lucrative industry, tourism in the contemporary environment, is found with the challenge of security and safety. Terrorism incidents have raised questions about the safety and security of tourists. A dynamic industry is faced with the challenge how to grow under this form of terrorism?
Inaugurating the Seminar Mr D. K. Beri, Vice President, Business and Corporate Relations, Taj Group of Hotels reiterated that they shall face and finish the terrorism as this attack was from the back and not from the front which exhibited an act of cowardness. He emphasized that duty and integrity towards profession is always first and should never be last and such acts of competent professionalism makes the nation proud. Students fraternity should go deep into this to explore on possible methods to combat sudden attack of terrorism.
Mr Ratan Keswani, President, The Trident Group, conveyed that Hotels are landmarks and Icons in the commercial capital of the country and could be used as playground by terrorists who wished to ensure the world sits up to watch their demonic game. An urgent need of coherent strategies and coordinated efforts by Private and Government Agencies and by all to mitigate impact of terrorism was emphasized along with the responsibility of state. He conveyed that being alert will help nation, society and organization. Visible sign of security is expected by the guest..
Mr Yoel Mansfeld, University of Haifa, Israel. emphasized that Tourism crises in the wake of security situations can be better managed and that the damage to all stakeholders involved can be substantially mitigated through global and local monitoring of trends, past and present. He stressed on the need of having Crisis management system, understanding the perception of tourists and their behaviour and using media to give right perception of the security concerns to the potential tourist and targeting domestic market for sustainability of tourism in the wake of crisis.
Long-term planning and investment decisions on national, regional and local level must be sensitive to the local tourism crisis and Global Trend. He opinioned that after one crisis, another crisis is to come and one has to be prepared. During crisis plan accordingly, focusing the prospective business opportunity and market segments. Domestic market can save Tourism Industry and suggested to find new market segments. He suggested use of tourism crises as an opportunity for re-branding of tourism product and affected countries must cooperate in the field of tourism with each other to ensure flow of expertise and knowledge on the effectiveness of Crisis Management Measures.
Mr Deepak Behl, Director-HR, Inter Continental Eros, Nehru Place, New Delhi presented need of applying urgent security measures by the organizations. E.g
Goods scanner, boom barriers, metal detectors and awareness
Educating our domestic and International Guests
Improved armed guarding and communication
Full proof Evacuation Plan with overlapping duties.
Regular Emergency Evacuation Drills/Mock Fire Evacuations and Mystery Shoppers to check up the systems.
Keeping ourselves updated about the modus operendi of Terrorists.
Prof Dr M. Sajnani, Amity University, Noida presented insights about the vulnerability to the terrorist :
q People on vocation often do not wish to think about world’s problems instead pay a little attention to their surroundings and to keep strange hours. So it is easy for terrorists to infiltrate.
q Tourism is connected to major transportation centres which functions as heart and soul of the modern economies.
q Tourism is highly media oriented and terrorists seek publicity. Tourism destinations provide good media access and can assure a terrorist of almost instant exposure.
q People come and leave at will; during unusual hours and have different dress codes. This can be a perfect cover for terrorist activities.
It is no longer a question of, “If Terrorist will strike but rather a question of “when”, “how” and how prepared the destination is to deal with them. To predict the possible terror attack he shared the relevant approaches, analyzing :
If the destination has
The potential for mass causalities?
Mass publicity image for media?
Major economic damage ?
A national icon if attacked results in national depression, anger or fear?
Greater the number of positive responses to these issues higher the potential for a terrorist attack .
Prof. Kapil Kumar, School of Social Sciences, IGNOU, New Delhi reiterated need of Political Will to tackle the menace. What is under attack today is the psyche of leisure which the tourist experiences at a destination and is dangerous threat to tourism. Another form of economic leakage has been in meeting the costs of security arrangements at such destinations. Above aspects need to be addressed for marketing and managing Indian destinations. There is a need for socially responsible marketing for sustainable tourism and development.
Col. J R Trikha, Executive Director- (Central Association of Private Security Agencies) highlighted the importance of knowing the threat perception with in the Hotel to get the lead and to plan the security coverage at there Hotel. It is important to know the concerns of the Management for carrying out their Hotel business and also for the Security Head of the Hotel to concentrate with his resources in these areas while planning the security cover at the Hotel. Developments in the Hotel Security, with respect to current days need should be analyzed amidst procedure, and security equipment- project stage.
Proliferations of the Seminar
Once favorable Tourist Destination image is lost, it will be very difficult to recover.
Without Peace, Safety and Security, destinations cannot be successful in the generation of markets. Tourist demand peaceful and secure conditions in the country.
Political will, Professionalism, Public Cooperation are important along with managing of media effectively by activation of marketing strategies with a good and close relations before, while and after the crisis.
Methodologies should be flexible as per the threat perception. Skills, aptitude and commitment of people is important. Global- Local monitoring of past and current trends, integrated and well coordinated cooperation of all party involved, with a stress on utilization of the domestic market as a short medium and long term balancing mechanism. Security and vigilance with special emphasis to terrorism should be made as an important subject in the academic curriculum at all levels.
Other area need attention are conducting good security analysis & planning and training to implement it, Listing of vulnerability and weaknesses, developing working relationship between local security professional and Creating visitor safety sessions for visitor, industry employee.
Foolproof security is highly impossible but if one is mentally prepared to face the unexpected he can design a better security set up than other’s in present conditions. Security and Safety of any installation is the total responsibility of all the personnel working in these facilities. We need to work as a team.
A lucrative industry, tourism in the contemporary environment, is found with the challenge of security and safety. Terrorism incidents have raised questions about the safety and security of tourists. A dynamic industry is faced with the challenge how to grow under this form of terrorism?
Inaugurating the Seminar Mr D. K. Beri, Vice President, Business and Corporate Relations, Taj Group of Hotels reiterated that they shall face and finish the terrorism as this attack was from the back and not from the front which exhibited an act of cowardness. He emphasized that duty and integrity towards profession is always first and should never be last and such acts of competent professionalism makes the nation proud. Students fraternity should go deep into this to explore on possible methods to combat sudden attack of terrorism.
Mr Ratan Keswani, President, The Trident Group, conveyed that Hotels are landmarks and Icons in the commercial capital of the country and could be used as playground by terrorists who wished to ensure the world sits up to watch their demonic game. An urgent need of coherent strategies and coordinated efforts by Private and Government Agencies and by all to mitigate impact of terrorism was emphasized along with the responsibility of state. He conveyed that being alert will help nation, society and organization. Visible sign of security is expected by the guest..
Mr Yoel Mansfeld, University of Haifa, Israel. emphasized that Tourism crises in the wake of security situations can be better managed and that the damage to all stakeholders involved can be substantially mitigated through global and local monitoring of trends, past and present. He stressed on the need of having Crisis management system, understanding the perception of tourists and their behaviour and using media to give right perception of the security concerns to the potential tourist and targeting domestic market for sustainability of tourism in the wake of crisis.
Long-term planning and investment decisions on national, regional and local level must be sensitive to the local tourism crisis and Global Trend. He opinioned that after one crisis, another crisis is to come and one has to be prepared. During crisis plan accordingly, focusing the prospective business opportunity and market segments. Domestic market can save Tourism Industry and suggested to find new market segments. He suggested use of tourism crises as an opportunity for re-branding of tourism product and affected countries must cooperate in the field of tourism with each other to ensure flow of expertise and knowledge on the effectiveness of Crisis Management Measures.
Mr Deepak Behl, Director-HR, Inter Continental Eros, Nehru Place, New Delhi presented need of applying urgent security measures by the organizations. E.g
Goods scanner, boom barriers, metal detectors and awareness
Educating our domestic and International Guests
Improved armed guarding and communication
Full proof Evacuation Plan with overlapping duties.
Regular Emergency Evacuation Drills/Mock Fire Evacuations and Mystery Shoppers to check up the systems.
Keeping ourselves updated about the modus operendi of Terrorists.
Prof Dr M. Sajnani, Amity University, Noida presented insights about the vulnerability to the terrorist :
q People on vocation often do not wish to think about world’s problems instead pay a little attention to their surroundings and to keep strange hours. So it is easy for terrorists to infiltrate.
q Tourism is connected to major transportation centres which functions as heart and soul of the modern economies.
q Tourism is highly media oriented and terrorists seek publicity. Tourism destinations provide good media access and can assure a terrorist of almost instant exposure.
q People come and leave at will; during unusual hours and have different dress codes. This can be a perfect cover for terrorist activities.
It is no longer a question of, “If Terrorist will strike but rather a question of “when”, “how” and how prepared the destination is to deal with them. To predict the possible terror attack he shared the relevant approaches, analyzing :
If the destination has
The potential for mass causalities?
Mass publicity image for media?
Major economic damage ?
A national icon if attacked results in national depression, anger or fear?
Greater the number of positive responses to these issues higher the potential for a terrorist attack .
Prof. Kapil Kumar, School of Social Sciences, IGNOU, New Delhi reiterated need of Political Will to tackle the menace. What is under attack today is the psyche of leisure which the tourist experiences at a destination and is dangerous threat to tourism. Another form of economic leakage has been in meeting the costs of security arrangements at such destinations. Above aspects need to be addressed for marketing and managing Indian destinations. There is a need for socially responsible marketing for sustainable tourism and development.
Col. J R Trikha, Executive Director- (Central Association of Private Security Agencies) highlighted the importance of knowing the threat perception with in the Hotel to get the lead and to plan the security coverage at there Hotel. It is important to know the concerns of the Management for carrying out their Hotel business and also for the Security Head of the Hotel to concentrate with his resources in these areas while planning the security cover at the Hotel. Developments in the Hotel Security, with respect to current days need should be analyzed amidst procedure, and security equipment- project stage.
Proliferations of the Seminar
Once favorable Tourist Destination image is lost, it will be very difficult to recover.
Without Peace, Safety and Security, destinations cannot be successful in the generation of markets. Tourist demand peaceful and secure conditions in the country.
Political will, Professionalism, Public Cooperation are important along with managing of media effectively by activation of marketing strategies with a good and close relations before, while and after the crisis.
Methodologies should be flexible as per the threat perception. Skills, aptitude and commitment of people is important. Global- Local monitoring of past and current trends, integrated and well coordinated cooperation of all party involved, with a stress on utilization of the domestic market as a short medium and long term balancing mechanism. Security and vigilance with special emphasis to terrorism should be made as an important subject in the academic curriculum at all levels.
Other area need attention are conducting good security analysis & planning and training to implement it, Listing of vulnerability and weaknesses, developing working relationship between local security professional and Creating visitor safety sessions for visitor, industry employee.
Foolproof security is highly impossible but if one is mentally prepared to face the unexpected he can design a better security set up than other’s in present conditions. Security and Safety of any installation is the total responsibility of all the personnel working in these facilities. We need to work as a team.
1 comment:
Local news can provide you with a lot of information regarding any potential problems in the areas you are choosing to visit. Seminars are being conducted on tourism and they have suggested some suggestion for tourist people. Generally these tourism seminars are successful marketing seminars.
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