Kenya Tourism Federation Safety and Communication Center is the pioneer safety and communication management body for Kenya's tourism industry; and is working with the industry to ensure there are adequate security measures in place to enhance the destination's appeal and ensure the safety of tourists in the country. Adequate security for the sector is critical for the realization of sector goals to increase tourist arrivals and revenues, and to become a leading long haul destination.
Today, the threat of terrorist attacks is a global security concern, from which Kenya is not exempt. In order to address the threat of security incidents perpetuated by terrorists, KTF-SCC, with the support of CTDLT, has organized a program on terrorism awareness for the tourism industry, which will involve terrorism awareness trainings for industry stakeholders in various parts of the country. The program launched this week with the first two training on this subject held on 29th and 30th November in Nairobi. The trainings brought together stakeholders in entertainment, Hotels and Air operators, who received critical training conducted by officers from the Anti terrorism Police unit, the Tourist Police Unit and the Bomb squad; and first aid training conducted by Red Cross personnel.
Among the topics the trainees were taken through are the history of terrorist attacks in Kenya, the threats the tourism industry is exposed to, security measures to take to reduce risks of attack, identification of the devices used to carry out the common terrorist attacks and collaboration with the Police force to curb attacks in the country. The trainees also received basic first aid training with emphasis on initial care to give to casualties in emergency situations, such as at blast scenes.
The trainings target personnel who are in direct contact with customers, such as security officers, waiters and waitresses, room service stewards e.t.c, as they are at vantage positions to notice suspicious behavior by patrons or suspicious objects and parcels in the premises.
SECURITY SURVEILLANCE IS VITAL
Security surveillance is critical in any premise, and is effective for noticing suspicious behavior and luggage, and is also very helpful in investigations. Installations such as CCTV are very effective for security surveillance; and need not only be installed, but also in working order always, so as to achieve their purpose. The officers from the Anti Terrorism Police unit urged tourism stakeholders to ensure they have installed working security surveillance systems in their premises so as to deter crimes.
