Cape Town Tourism CEO, Mariette du Toit-Helmbold responded to news of the hijacking and murder of British tourist Anni Dewani in Cape Town over the weekend with shock. "Cape Town Tourism is deeply saddened and dismayed by this senseless murder of a young woman in our city. We offer our heartfelt condolences to her husband Shrien Dewani, family and friends."
The tragic incident took place while the newlywed couple was experiencing an impromptu tour of township nightlife and highlights the importance of integrated visitor-safety programmes, visitor education and community awareness of the importance of tourism. Alderman Felicity Purchase, executive mayoral committee member for economic development and tourism said: "Visitor and tourist safety remains a top priority in Cape Town. We are appealing to the tourism industry and the public to be vigilant around tourism safety, and to caution visitors not to enter unfamiliar areas, especially at night."
She continued: "We hosted an incident-free World Cup and are now facing the very real risk that tragic incidents like this will negate our hard-won positive reputation and create another spiral of Afro pessimism. It remains our duty as hosts to ensure that our visitors are protected and cared for. As one of the top economic contributors to the Western Cape region, tourism is essential to our economic well-being."
Safety and security concerns remain the biggest stumbling block to tourism growth in South Africa. Cape Town Tourism, in conjunction with provincial and city partners and key stakeholders from the safety and tourism sector, has been working to find proactive solutions to deal with this issue. A Cape Town Visitor Safety and Support plan was developed in 2005 and outlines an integrated approach to incident management. No single agency, business or service can plan or react to visitor incidents alone. The plan includes proactive and reactive programmes, as well as a dedicated Visitor Safety and Support Programme (VSSP). A Visitor Safety and Security Forum is also in place, where interested Cape Town Tourism industry members, safety and security agencies, stakeholders and major attractions collectively work to formulate, activate and track the progress of projects that ensure a safer city for visitors.
With the peak season approaching, visitor safety is even more critical. Du Toit-Helmbold, said: "We are appealing to the public to extend the hospitality we showed visitors during the World Cup by taking joint responsibility for tourism safety, especially over the next few months." Capetonians are asked to assist in warning tourists about the dangers of walking around with obvious valuables on their person, and to steer them away from walking around alone after dark.
Authorities have identified key sites and tourism hotspots around the City for intensified patrols with increased security measures and personnel. This includes all areas of Table Mountain National Park. Police officers will be able to communicate with visitors in a variety of languages after receiving training prior to the World Cup, and various safety programmes are being run by tourism centres across the city. Residents can also assist the police by reporting any suspicious activity around tourist sites.
The next Cape Town Tourism Safety Forum will take place on 18 November, 2010. Key stakeholders including the Western Cape Provincial Government, the City of Cape Town, SANParks, major hotel groups, the Backpackers' Association and Cape Town Partnership will discuss proactive strategies for ensuring visitor safety during the festive season.
To report any safety incidents, visitors can call the following numbers:
The Cape Town Visitor Safety Plan covers the following key aspects:
Safety Support for the Tourism Industry:
Visitor Safety Support:
Reactive mechanisms:
As in all world cities, visitors are encouraged to take shared responsibility for their own safety. Cape Town Tourism urges travellers:
