The Cape Town Visitor Safety Forum has met to discuss plans both underway and proposed for ensuring visitor safety this season.Β
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The meeting, facilitated by Cape Town Tourism, was attended by members from the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), Central City Improvement District (CCID), the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), South African National Parks (SANParks), hotels in the city and others.
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βAs the holiday season begins in earnest, we want to provide the safest possible environment for our visitors to ensure they have a seamless experienceβ, says Cape Town Tourism CEO Enver Duminy.
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ACSA, CCID, SANParks and SAPS all stated that increased safety measures are already in place for the holiday season, including increased patrols, more visible security and a wealth of information available at central points and on websites.
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This Safety Forum has worked well since 2009 and has allowed strategic partners to share information and initiatives, and to develop a cohesive strategy for ensuring visitor safety.
Information and education firstΒ
Cape Town Tourism has released a user-friendly infographic which can be shared online, or as a printout to ensure locals and visitors alike are aware of the main safety tips that anyone can follow. The β7 Safety Tipsβ provides a summary of information on safe travel in Cape Town, as well as emergency contact numbers and addresses of Cape Town Tourismβs Visitor Information Centres.
βThere will be thousands of international and local visitors descending on the Mother City to share in the experiences we have on offer, but, as with any major destination, there are some safety factors to consider. We want everyone who comes here to relax without their stay being marred by negative incidents β after all, as hosts, weβre here to ensure that you have a good time,β Duminy concludes.
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Another helpful initiative is the free mySOS app which uses your location to find the emergency services closest to you, as well as sending a notification to your selected contacts. The app can be used without active data, too.
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βThe City is very proud to be part of this initiative. We believe that these partnerships are critical to ensuring that the visitor experience in Cape Town is not marred by any mishap and encourage these safety measures for locals and visitors of Cape Town. This is one way in which we make progress possible togetherβ – Councillor Garreth Bloor, Mayoral Committee member: Tourism, Events and Economic Development.
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For more information on Cape Town, tourists can visit the Cape Town Tourism Visitor Information Centres or download the Official Guide to Cape Town app.Β You can also collect a free keyring or bookmark with safety contact details at one of the Visitor Information Centres.
