SYMPOSIUM ON VISITOR SAFETY AND SECURITY IN THE CARIBBEAN

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SYMPOSIUM ON VISITOR SAFETY AND SECURITY IN THE
CARIBBEAN

• CRIME AND HARASSMENT OF TOURISTS/VISITORS
• ANALYSIS, ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• PRESENTER CLIFFORD E. GRIFFIN, PhD
• September 22-23, 2003

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2003 World Tourism Forecast

• US4,544.2 billion of economic activity
• 11.2 per cent of total exports
• 10.2 per cent of GDP
• 194,662,000 jobs
• 7.6 per cent of total employment
• Source World Travel Tourism Council

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Caribbean Travel and Tourism Industry 2003
Forecast

• US34.6b economic activity3 growth
• 567,870 jobs1.4 employment growth
• US6.5b or 1.8 industry GDP growth
• 1,857,000 jobs1.4 growth in Travel and Tourism
  economy
• US23.1b or 2.3 growth in Tourism economy

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Travel and Tourism Economy

• 1,857,000 jobs12 of total employment
• US23.1b or 13 of GDP
• US16.2b exports16.2 of total exports
• US7.6b capital investment, 22.3 of total
• US2.0b Government exp., 8.8 share

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Caribbean Travel and Tourism 10-year Projections
to 2013

• 5.5 Travel/Tourism growth to US78.4b
• 6.7 growth to US16.3b in direct benefits
• 6.7 growth to US53b for Tourism and Travel
  economy overall
• 5.6 direct sector jobs growth to 975,800
• 4.7 Travel/Tourism Econ jobs growth to 2,945,100
  overall

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Caribbean Travel and Tourism 10-year Projections
to 2013

• 7 growth in visitor exports to US36.3b
• 3.5 growth in capital invest to US14.3b
• 3.5 govt expenditure growth to US3.8b
• Source World Travel Tourism Council at
• http//www.wttc.org/measure/PDF/Caribbean

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Caribbean Travel and Tourism

• Almost unparalleled globally as a source of
  income, employment, hard currency earnings and
  economic growth
• Sustainability is intimately linked to visitor
  safety and security

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Tourist/Visitor Safety and Security Picture

• Pre-9-11 security 1 concern for 15 of visitors
  
• Post-9-11 safety 1 reason for choosing a
  particular destination
• Historically, tourism destinations covered up
  their security
• Today, travelers no longer fear tourism security
  but demand it
• Increasingly police are viewed as economic
  development tools

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Regional Tourist/Visitor Safety and Security
Concerns

• Food
• Health and Health Care Delivery/Facilities
• Transportation
• road, air and water traffic accidents
• Signage
• Accommodation
• Environment Management
• Employment
• Crisis response/disaster management systems
• Harassment Crime Terrorism

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Concerns for Governments and Tourism Stakeholders

• Perception of rising crime levels against
  tourists/visitors
• Perception that regions rising crime rates may
  adversely affect the tourism industry
• Regions openness may be conducive to crimes of
  opportunity as well as planned crimes
• Increasing complaints of harassment by
  tourists/visitors

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COMPARATIVE STAKEHOLDER ATTITUDES TOWARD CRIME IN
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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Focus

• Crime against tourists/visitors
• Harassment of tourists/visitors
• Crime committed by tourists/visitors

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Tourist/Visitor

• VISITORnon-residents who visit a country
• TOURISTvisitors who spend at least one night in
  a country
• CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERregarded as tourist

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Tourist/Visitor

• Crime data do not distinguish between tourist and
  cruise ship passenger
• While the crime rate against all visitors will
  provide a fairly accurate overall picture, it
  will somewhat understate the risk for tourists.

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Crime and Violence Definition

• Crime, including assault, battery, rape, murder,
  etc. are considered acts of violence
• Analytically useful to distinguish between crime,
  acts of violence and harassment

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Crime and Violence Definition

• CRIME A social harm that the law makes
  punishable
• VIOLENCE unjust or unwarranted use of force,
  usually accompanied by fury, vehemence, or
  outright rage.
• Source Blacks Law Dictionary 7th ed., 1999.

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Harassment Definition

• Annoying behavior carried to extremes.
• Behavior need not be annoying initially
• persistence?annoyance
• Extreme annoyance?harassment.
• Words, conduct, or action (usually repeated or
  persistent) that, being directed as a specific
  person, annoys, alarms, or causes substantial
  emotional distress in that person and serves no
  legitimate purpose

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Crime and Harassment in Perspective

• PriceWaterhouse Coopers 2nd annual survey of
  Jamaican hoteliers, Nov 2001...
• Crime and Harassment are the most important
  issues that will affect hotel occupancies and
  earnings49
• In 2000--until crime and harassment are reduced,
  sector will fall far short of its potential
• Reduction of crime and harassment the 1 problem
  to be resolved if tourism industry is to improve
  earnings and occupancies-- 66.1.

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HARASSMENT

• It is disquieting to have strangers stand in
  your path or shadow you while you walk, all the
  time begging or offering their unsolicited
  services. On a recent trip to Ocho Rios I
  witnessed blatant tourist harassment and since
  there were no policemen anywhere in sight, I had
  to take it on myself to call the fellow aside and
  tell him that he is killing our country by his
  selfish act.
• (Garth A. Rattray, Gleaner, May 1, 2001).

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Tourist/Visitor Victimization Data Issues

• Reliable data difficult to obtain
• Where produced, closely guarded by many
  tourism-reliant destinations
• Tendency to suppress information about extent of
  crime and harassment of tourists/visitors.
• General concern publishing/publicizing data
  would injure sector.

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Regional Tourist/Visitor Crime Data Problems

• All jurisdictions collect crime data
• Variation in data collection/management
• Some do not discriminate between local and
  tourist/visitor crime
• Few collect tourist/visitor crime data
• Tourist/visitor crime underreported
• Tourist/visitors short stay
• Belief that police can/will do little about it
• Reported if victim wishes to file insurance
• Recorded crimes against tourists/visitors will be
  less than actual

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Nature of Tourist/Visitor Crime

• Mainly against stay-over visitors rather than
  against cruise ship visitors3 types of crime
• Property crimes
• Robbery/theft from hotel/guest houses, vehicles,
  beaches and public places, remote sight-seeing
  tours
• Sometimes results in bodily harm
• Unwelcome Sexual Advances
• Especially against women (often leads to rape)
• Offering Sale of Illicit Drugs
• GOAL to secure cash or potable property

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Perpetrators Views of Tourists/Visitors

• Normally very wealthy
• Take risks
• Go out after dark, visit clubs/pubs, drink and
  get careless
• Perpetrators consider a street mugging is
  considered less risky than a hotel room burglary

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Tourist/Visitor Dishonesty

• Guests skip out on their bills
• Theft of other guests property
• Make false claims of impolite/improper service
• Make false claims about loss of property
• Make fraudulent insurance claims
• Commit credit card fraud
• Write bad checks (travelers and personal)
• Pass counterfeit money
• Engage in other illicit activities
• Drug trafficking, gun running, money laundering,
  prostitution, alien smuggling

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Recorded Crimes Against Tourists/Visitors to
Barbados 1980-2000
900
800
700
600
500
incidence of crime
Recorded Crimes
400
300
200
100
0
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
years
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Recorded Crimes Against Tourists/Visitors to
Barbados 1980-2000
900
849
821
800
797
758
751
750
701
700
690
611
600
564
539
523
500
incidence of crime
494
Recorded Crimes
439
436
416
415
400
379
352
345
323
300
200
100
0
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
years
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Distribution of Recorded Crime Against
Tourists/Visitors to Barbados 1980-2000
Burglary
51

22
Robbery
9
Other Theft
7
Theft From Beach
Theft From Motor Vehicle
Types of Crime
3
Distribution of Recorded Crime
Theft From Person
3
Aggravated Burglary
2
Wounding
2
1
Sex Offences
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
percentages
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Reported Crimes Against Tourists/Visitors to
Tobago 1996-2002
180
160
153
151
147
140
120
113
incidence of crime
100
85
No of Crimes
80
66
58
60
40
20
0
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
years
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Tobago Tourist-Visitor Crimes 1996-2002
180
160
153
151
147
140
120
Incidence of Crime
113
100
No of Crimes
85
80
66
60
58
40
20
0
2000
1996
1997
1998
1999
2001
2002
Years
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Reported Crimes Against Tourists/Visitors to TT
Jan 2002 to July 2003
14
12
10
8
Trinidad
Tobago
Totals
monthly incidence of crime
6
4
2
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
months
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Types and Distribution of Crimes Against
Tourists/Visitors to TT Jan 2002-Jul 2003
Murder
0.70
1.50
Kidnappings
1.50
Wounding
1.50
Sexual Offenses
Types of Crime
6.60
Distribution of Crime
Assaults
Burglaries
9.60
12.50
Housebreakings
Robberies
18.40
47.70
Larcenies
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
percentage distribution of crime
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Reported Crimes Against Cruisers in TT in 2002
1
Wounding With Intent
1
Robbery With Violence
1
Robbery With Aggravation
types of crime
5
Crimes Against Cruisers
Larceny Dhingy and Engine
Larceny Boat Engine
1
3
Larceny From Boat
3
Larceny
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
number of incidences
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REPORTS OF CRIMES AGAINST CRUISERS IN 2OO2
4.5
4
4
3.5
3
2.5
MONTHLY INCIDENCE OF
VICTIMIZATION
Yachties
2
2
2
1.5
1
1
1
1
1
1
0.5
0
0
0
0
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
MONTHS
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Annual Yacht Arrivals To Trinidad and Tobago 1992-
2002
Annual Yacht Arrivals
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Years
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MAIN FORMS OF HARASSMENT

• Pressure to buy things they do not wish
• Attempts to sell them drugs (ganja, coke, crack)
• Being followed around
• Being pushed around
• Being pushed and shoved into taxis
• Being approached for sex or to buy sexual favors
• Being approached to sell foreign currency
• Being pushed and shoved in shopping areas

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MAIN FORMS OF HARASSMENT

• Being pressured to braid hair
• Being pressured to hire guides
• Being abused or threatened
• Using incentives to entice tourists/visitors to
  patronize a particular business or activity
• Trailing and following tourists/visitors closely
  anticipating their needs
• Overcharging for goods and services
• Verbal abuse when services offered are not
  accepted

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TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO STAKEHOLDER ATTITUDES TOWARD
CRIME AND HARASSMENT OF VISITORS
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HARASSERS PERSPECTIVE

• Individuals do not view persistent sales pitch as
  harassment
• Behavior consistent with Caribbean culture of
  salesmanship is aggression--to make a sale,
  interest a potential customer, or get a fare.
• Do not view persistent sales pitches to
  tourists/visitors lying on the beach or walking
  in the streets as being disturbing or a nuisance.

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TOURIST/VISITOR HARASSMENT RATES
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PRINCIPAL AREAS OF HARASSMENT
49
FORMS OF HARASSMENT EXPERIENCED
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Stakeholders' Views of Most Frequent Types of
Harassment
20.8
No Response
23.4
Beach Boys
Craft Sellers
6.9
main types of harassers
Tour guides
2.8
1.4
Hair Braiders
0
Tour Operators
12.5
Taxi Drivers
0
5
10
15
20
25
frequency of harassment
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DOMINICAS RESPONSE

• April 2001 law criminalizing harassmentdesigned
  to curb harassment and make the island more
  visitor-friendly
• Police can harassment anyone caught harassing
  others
• Penalty 370 or up 6 months in jail.
• Special Tourism Police unit instituted

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GRENADAS RESPONSES

• 1975 and 1986 anti-harassment legislation
  targeting taxi drivers and vendors
• 1992 law empowers magistrates to hold court at
  any time in the interest of justice

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GRENADAS RESPONSES

• Strengthen beach and hotel security
• Increasing of police patrols in tourist belt
• Increase of police patrols when cruise ships
  are docked in harbor
• Creating quick-response reserve force with
  communication equipment
• Increasing of coast guard patrols.

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ST. LUCIAS RESPONSES

• May 1, 1999--Parks and Beaches Comm. became
  National Conservation Authority
• Authoritys Special Constables maintain order in
  prescribed areasheritage sites, beaches, etc
• Authority issues licenses to vendors
• Authority required to provide vendors with
  kiosks, etc., and monitor their operations

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ST. LUCIAS RESPONSES

• Separate security and licensing arrangements are
  made for the ports and cruise ship terminals.
• Private Security, along with the police,, have
  major responsibility for keeping order at Point
  Seraphin, especially controlling solicitation by
  taxi drivers and begging by individuals

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ST. LUCIAS RESPONSES

• Much skepticism and resistance to this strict
  enforcement approach remains given the range of
  economic and social problems that afflict the
  youth.

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ST. KITTS NEVIS RESPONSES

• 1994 NIA legislation designated all beaches
  prescribed areas
• Ministry of Tourism authorized to declared any
  area prohibited area
• Nevis Beach Vending Order 2002 requires license
  for beach vending
• Police security firm monitor compliance
• Penalty ,1000 or 3 months in jail
• Considering providing kiosks at Pinneys Beach.

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JAMAICAS RESPONSES

• 1997-98 Govt considered doubling fines for
  harassers
• Establish night court for swift processing of
  offenders
• 1999 increased of police plainclothes
  soldiers patrolling tourist areas
• Joint JDF and police patrols.

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JAMAICAS RESPONSES

• Increased security in resort areas
• Mounted police and bicycle patrols
• Creating national communication system to utilize
  GPS technology
• Judiciary to apply full legal penalties
• Ongoing public education programs
• Team Jamaica Course required by drivers
• Vehicles must be inspected
• Valid JTB license required of all contract
  carriers

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JAMAICAS RESPONSES

• Identify system of prescribed areas
• Security provided by Resort Patrols Jamaica
  Constabulary
• Patrols dress similarly to JC and travel in pairs
  accompanied with member of JC
• Stiffer fines for offences committed in
  prescribed areasnot supported by some
  magistrates.

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JAMAICAS RESPONSES

• Extensive PR program
• Subject in schools across country
• Goals change attitudes and behaviors toward
  tourism prospective career opportunities.
• Hotels give week-end prizes for tourism related
  competitions
• TV and radio used to get message out.

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TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO RESPONSES

• Community Policing
• Community Tourism Bike Unit
• Tourism Police (TOPS) Program
• Downtown City Ambassadors Program
• Initiatives to Comfort Victims
• Tourism Awareness Lectures
• Special Courts for Expeditious Trials

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Paradigm Shift

• Destinations emphasizing safety and security
  highly likely to survive
• Destinations providing good mixture of security
  and safety and good customer service will
  flourish
•  

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Paradigm Shift

• Security and safety are strictly non-competitive
  issues
• Require collaboration, coordination and
  cooperation between and among stakeholders
• Do not create a false sense of security
• Develop security coalitions with all components
  of the community
• Ensure that the police service is trained and
  understands tourism

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Paradigm Shift

• Professionally train hotel and attraction workers
  to handle safety and security issues
• Implement safety and security measures in both
  rural and urban areas  
• Include local and government officials in
  identifying and improve unsafe areas  
• Ensure that police and security personnel are
  aware of how important tourism safety and
  security is

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POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

• Education and Public Awareness
• Associations of Service Providers
• Tourism Safety and Security Team

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PUBLIC AWARENESS and PUBLIC POLICY

• Governments in the region, in cooperation with
  hoteliers and other stakeholders in the industry,
  must undertake ongoing education and public
  awareness campaigns about the importance of and
  impact of tourism on the economies and societies
  of the region.

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PUBLIC AWARENESS and PUBLIC POLICY

• Tourists are turned off by harassment
• Harassment robs citizens of dollars and cents
• Harassment reduces the number of tourist
  arrivals as most visitors choose their
  destinations by word of mouth
• Overcharging drives tourists/visitors away
• Contrary to popular belief, most tourists are not
  rich they save their money in order to take a
  holiday in the Caribbean
• Tourism is the countrys bread and butter.

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PUBLIC AWARENESS and PUBLIC POLICY

• Tourism studies should be incorporated into the
  curriculum at the primary, secondary and tertiary
  levels in order to help develop an appreciation
  for the product as well as inculcate in citizens
  the prospects of a future in the industry as
  historians, guides, bookkeepers, accountants,
  front desk persons, managers, marketers and other
  aspects of the industry.

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PUBLIC AWARENESS and PUBLIC POLICY

• Countries in the region should actively encourage
  the development of domestic tourism, whereby
  citizens are offered incentives (including
  reduced airfares where applicable, hotel rates,
  etc.) so that they may have greater exposure to
  what the country has to offer as well as
  participate in the tourist experience.

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PUBLIC AWARENESS and PUBLIC POLICY

• All countries should develop and implement
  ordinances to regulate the vending of goods and
  services.
• Special markets should be established to house
  the vendors.
• Where vending on beaches is permitted, kiosks
  should be built, vendors should be required to
  obtain licenses, and vendors, who sell food, must
  satisfy minimum sanitary criteria.

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ASSOCIATIONS OF SERVICE PROVIDERS

• Must be licensed by the proper governmental
  authority
• Must wear uniform and wear/display valid picture
  identification/name tag every day
• Must agree not to use obscene or offensive
  language, fight, harass guests, gamble, drink
  intoxicating beverages, sell or use dangerous, or
  be under the influence of alcohol, or offer
  themselves for prostitution
• Must keep their work environment in a clean state
  and must dispose of garbage in proper
  receptacles
• Must participate in and successfully complete
  Ministry of Tourisms professional development
  seminars and training programs.

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TOURISM SAFETY AND SECURITY TEAM

• Governments in the region must require their
  Ministries of Tourism, in collaboration with
  other stakeholders, including hoteliers,
  restaurateurs, the police, private security
  managers, chambers of commerce, and educators to
  develop a Tourism Safety and Security Team

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TOURISM SAFETY AND SECURITY TEAM

• MUST INSTITUTE A VISITOR RELATIONS UNIT WITH
  TRAINED PERSONNEL IN HUMAN RELATIONS

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TOURISM SAFETY AND SECURITY TEAM

• Provide safety and security training for all
  tourism/hospitality personnel
• Inform tourists of safety and security risks
• Educate law enforcement agencies as to economic
  and opportunity costs to country of safety and
  security violation
• Maintain high police visibility
• Select, train, and deploy in tourism areas police
  officers willing to talk to strangers

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TOURISM SAFETY AND SECURITY TEAM

• Private Security Services personnel and companies
  must register and obtain license from the police
• Create a safety and security accrediting
  organization (or organizations)
• Mandate all tourism enterprises to report all
  criminal activities
• Adopt universal signs and pictograms related to
  tourism/hospitality safety and security

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TOURISM SAFETY AND SECURITY TEAM

• Be aware of safety and security information that
  marketers provide to travelers
• Institute measures to rectify problem areas and
  provide marketers with updated information
• Provide information and guidance to visitors
• Protect both visitors and residents
• Provide liaisons with consulates or embassies
  information in a timely manner
• Create crisis plans for all possible safety and
  security incidences (including natural hazards).

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TOURISM SAFETY AND SECURITY TEAM

• Governments in the region, in collaboration with
  hoteliers, travel agents, the police and other
  stakeholders, must develop and implement a
  successful traveler safety information program

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TOURISM SAFETY AND SECURITY TEAM

• Do not carry expensive jewelry or watches.
• Lock cameras, computers and other pricey
  equipment in your hotel safe.
• Be firm when approached by aggressive vendors or
  hawkers.
• Avoid certain urban areas at night.
• Use a concealed money pouch or belt for passports
  and cash.
• Avoid wandering on beaches alone after dark or
  isolated ones by day.
• Make sure that someone not traveling with you
  knows where you are at all times.

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TOURISM SAFETY AND SECURITY TEAM

• If you become a victim, report the incident
  immediately to local police authorities and your
  countrys consulate on that island.
• To help replace stolen documents, carry two extra
  passport-sized photos and a photocopy of your
  passport information page in a separate place.
• Bring contact information of your countrys
  consulates for every country you plan to visit.

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CONCLUSION

• Public policy is best informed by reliable data
  jurisdictions must systematically collect data on
  visitor victimization
• Because safety and security are goods demanded by
  tourists/visitors
• Destinations that provide a good mix of safety,
  security and friendly service will thrive

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Acknowledgements for data used in presentation

• Anslem Richards, THA PRDI Daniel Nicholson,
  Councillor Neil Wilson
• Carl Stone (late), UWI
• Klaus Albuquerque (late)
• Abraham Pizam Yoel Mansfeld
• CTOArley Sobers Gail Clarke
• Christopher Nuttal, Crime Justice Bullettin
• Barbados Police Service
• Orville Durant
• Librarian, Jamaica Tourist Board Jamaica
  Ministry of Tourism
• Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Bahamas Visitor
  Relations Unit
• Bahamas Commissioner of Police
• Tyrone OFlaherty, Ministry of Tourism Culture,
  NIA
• TT MOCAT, esp. Gail Henry and research team
• Anthony Mahler, Belize Ministry of Tourism Lucy
  Flemming, BTIA
• Jacqueline Clarke, YSATT
• Blacks Law Dictionary

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