Tunisia massacre: how to deter, contain and respond to a high-level security incident

In light of last month’s beach massacre in Tunisia, John Clune, MSc CPP, director of risk management consultancy at  Eos Risk, tells travel companies how they can help reduce the risks.

"Whilst the global travel sector has developed sophisticated security functions over the years, last month’s terrorist attack on a beach resort in Sousse, Tunisia, which claimed the lives of 38 people, has been highly concerning for many within the industry. The earlier Bardo Museum shooting in Tunis and a recent attempted massacre at a temple in Luxor, Egypt, have also highlighted the vulnerability of the tourism industry to the growth of Islamic State and associated extremism.

Tourist sites or facilities with relatively low levels of existing security are highly attractive targets for terrorist groups wishing to instil panic and attract global media attention. In a volatile industry where a single incident can have significant repercussions on travellers’ perceptions of the area or tourism brand, it is crucial to make visible changes to procedures in order to reinstate confidence. However, for the travel professional, reducing the security risks to their assets must simultaneously satisfy their requirement for a discreet service that safeguards, rather than disrupts, the customer’s holiday experience.

A key area to explore that will not upset this balance is a full review of existing emergency plans and security policies. A regimented and rapid response to any given incident is pivotal in reducing its impact. This can be achieved through the creation of rigorous security procedures that account for all eventualities, rather than a blanket evacuation policy that would be beneficial in the event of a fire, but less so during an event such as the Sousse attack. New policies should then be supported by constant staff training and drills to cope with potential high employee turnover and associated knowledge loss. In addition, employee due diligence during recruitment phases can prevent a threat from manifesting itself from within an organisation.

Ongoing engagement with local state security forces and neighbouring sites can also be pursued, as it can help improve a hotel’s ability to quickly contain an incident, opens channels for information sharing and creates a feeling of shared responsibility within the locale.

Depending on the risk profile of a hotel or tourist site’s location, various physical measures can be implemented to help deter or delay a potential attack. This may include increased access control, perimeter hardening, CCTV installation, the use of a PA system, guard presence, or the creation of easily secured ‘safe havens’ within the facility. Drawing on experienced external security consultancy, organisations can be assisted in identifying the existing vulnerabilities of their assets to a range of security threats, from simple petty theft to more extreme risks like kidnap and terrorism.

For the larger tour operators, intelligence-led services can be used to monitor security developments within their spheres of interest, leading to better-informed decision making. A number of easily accessible online sources, such as the Foreign Commonwealth Office’s country travel advice or the US Overseas and The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) services, provide an excellent overview of the security environment in the majority of countries around the world. However, more in-depth area assessments can be beneficial for clients wishing to understand the specific threats to their operations and the overriding political or socio-economic conditions that may influence them over time.

Whilst it is far beyond the remit of the travel industry to prevent events such as the tragic terrorist attack in Sousse, simple steps such as those outlined above can be explored to improve an organisations ability to deter, contain and respond to a high-level security incident."

Eos Risk is a global security risk and crisis management service providing security intelligence advice, security planning to hostage negotiations and travel risk management to travel operators and businesses operational overseas.