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Terror threats not stopping travel: Security summit

GOSTELOW REPORT—Just over a year after a lone gunman opened fire from a hotel room in Las Vegas, it seemed an opportune moment for the Jerusalem Development Authority to host its inaugural International Tourism Security Summit (ITSS) – and where more appropriate than in Israel? The event was staged October 7-9 at the Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem, a few yards from the site of the future U.S. Embassy.

The first of two full days of sessions was opened by Amir Halevi, director general of the Israel Ministry of Tourism, who stressed that the optimal way to deal with terror is to maintain routine.

“In the past we stopped all tourism marketing at times of war and terror, but now we sincerely believe that the business-as-usual approach is more beneficial. We have also extended our message from pilgrimages to sun and fun,” he said. 

His colleague Ilanit Melchior, director of the development authority, agreed with the need to be proactive and appealed for continuing discourse, including an online forum.

The challenge, however, is that security is like an elephant in the room – no one wants to talk about it, said retired Brigadier General Avi Bnayahu, owner of Bnayahu Strategy and Consulting.

Interestingly, Isabel Hill, director National Travel and Tourism Office, U.S. Department of Commerce, revealed that the U.S. administration’s electronic system for travel authorization, or ESTA, scheme, whereby foreign nationals pay US$14 to enroll online to avoid lengthy visa procedures before visiting the country, is a highly efficient security initiative and a win-win: The authorities gain vital personal details and travelers save hassles getting visas. Of the US$14 charge, US$10 goes to the Corporation for Travel Promotion and US$4 to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

No hindrance to travel

Time and time again during the conference, speakers revealed that, in general, terror threats are not stopping travel. Every year, IPK International, headquartered in Munich, Germany, surveys over 500,000 travelers in over 60 countries. CEO Rolf Freitag said that in 2018 Switzerland is seen as the world’s safest destination, followed by Canada and Australia. Although only .000001% — that’s five zeros – of travelers experience a terrorist attack, 13% of those interviewed will never travel abroad at all, while Norwegians are the least scared, with only 20% being terror-sensitive (at the opposite end of the scale, at 65%, are Japanese).

Israel saw 2.7 million international visitors in 2017 and will far surpass that figure this year: Already, the January-September 2018 total is just over 3 million international visitors, with 677,900 coming from the U.S. Arrive at hotels and there is none of the exterior blockade security that global travelers experience in, say, Mumbai, India, where U.S. airport security seems positively tame by comparison. Arrivals at any hotel in Israel know instinctively there are cameras everywhere, plus security guards, in civilian clothes rather than military uniform.

Alrov Luxury Hotels has two adjacent hotels in Jerusalem, both overseen by GM Rodney Sanders, an Israeli citizen who was born in Melbourne, Australia.

“When I was GM of the Amsterdam Hilton nearly 20 years ago, I had one security agent. Here in Jerusalem there are 25 agents for the 385-room David Citadel, and another 25 for the 194-room Mamilla Hotel. Both hotels have 24-hour coverage. The agents are extensively trained, both initially and on an ongoing basis. Yes, some are discreetly armed, but only those with full licenses,” he explained.

Security is one of the two major additional expenses that all hoteliers in Israel have to put up with – the other, for most properties, is adhering to kosher, which requires not only two complete kitchens, one offering dairy, one meat, but also four sets of china, one for each kitchen year-round, and one for each kitchen at Passover (in Tel Aviv, the Norman, and the month-old The Jaffa, a Luxury Collection hotel, are among the few non-kosher hotels).

Another ITSS speaker, Victory Cruise Lines President and CEO Hans Lagerweij, is also a trustee of the Safer Tourism Foundation. He told the conference that 89% of travelers feel that any travel company’s approach to customer safety, security and health is very important and 72% consider a company’s approach before booking. Lagerweij urged the hotel industry to talk about the “elephants in the room” and to share best practices, even anonymously, to create a more accurate global picture. This will help combat not only terrorism but other possible crimes and incidents.

A final impression of the conference confirmed the belief that no one understands security like the Israelis. Unseen technology paired with highly trained specialists, not necessarily obvious, helps travelers relax, which ultimately benefits hotels’ operators and owners.

Rodney Sanders, GM of David Citadel and The Mamilla hotels in Jerusalem
Rodney Sanders, GM of David Citadel and The Mamilla hotels in Jerusalem
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