Tourism crime strategy planned
2001-04-02 22:18
Johannesburg - A comprehensive strategy to deal with tourists falling victims to crime will be developed by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
Minister Valli Moosa said at a workshop on Monday on the improvement of tourist safety in South Africa that all citizens should become involved in marketing the country.
The workshop was organised by the department and the Crime Prevention Research Resources Centre.
The goal of the workshop is to define and determine the roles and responsibilities of those contributing towards a safer and secure environment for travellers, the resources centre said in a statement.
"Crime levels and the crimes involving tourists have made a comprehensive strategy to deal with tourist safety an important issue.
"The department has undertaken to develop a national framework in collaboration with all role-players to allow for a co-ordinated response to tourism-related crime within the context of the national crime prevention strategy," the centre said.
The workshop was attended by experts in tourism, crime prevention, and marketing.
Other issues on the agenda included the role of technology (surveillance) in tourist protection, as well as pilot projects in key centres which offer evidence of crime reduction, improve perceptions of safety and support tourists who fall victims to crime. - Sapa
- SAPA