Operators discuss possible new security measures in the wake of a gun attack in Tunisia
By
Michele Witthaus |
Conference panellists discussing itineraries and shore excursions at Cruise Shipping Miami responded to a question from International Cruise & Ferry Review about how the terrorist attack on tourists in Tunis might affect their organisations’ approaches to the safety of cruise guests during port visits.
Carla Salvado, president of MedCruise (of which Tunis’s La Goulette port is a member) and director of the port of Barcelona, said: “For all the ports in MedCruise, one of the requirements is to comply with the highest security standards. I think that our ports have invested a lot in security and will need to keep on complying with any other security measures that are introduced. We have to support these kinds of initiatives.”
Holland America Line’s Simon Douwes said that no official statement had yet been made by his company regarding the incident, whose sister line Costa Cruises’ ship Costa Fascinosa was in port during the attack. However, he said: “It most likely will have itinerary change consequences for the eight calls we have in Tunis for this year.” He added that the first call scheduled for the port was in April.
Laura Vlad, president of North America and Caribbean for Intercruises, said: “As tour operators, we need to evaluate safety with our suppliers to ensure that there is extensive research done on the various venues and we have a strategy on what security and other safety measures to take. We hope that this is another isolated incident, but with incidents like this, additional measures will probably come in place and we will make sure that those are embraced.”