Safety of Destinations (SAFE-D) Initiative

Through strategic partnerships, capacity-building, and policy guidance, SAFE-D supports destinations in anticipating, managing, and recovering from crises—whether natural disasters, health emergencies, geopolitical instability, or security threats.

By fostering international cooperation and sharing best practices, SAFE-D ensures that destinations are better equipped to protect travellers, businesses, and communities, while maintaining confidence in the tourism sector.

Crisis Preparedness & Early Warning

• Strengthening risk assessment and monitoring systems.
• Enhancing early-warning mechanisms to anticipate tourism-related crises.

Emergency Response & Coordination

• Developing efficient crisis communication strategies to inform travellers and stakeholders.
• Improving multi-stakeholder coordination at local, national, and global levels.

Post-Crisis Recovery & Resilience

• Supporting destinations in restoring their reputation and economic recovery.
• Integrating long-term resilience strategies into tourism governance.

Tourism Safety Standards & Regulations

• Assisting Member States in updating tourism safety policies.
• Aligning national frameworks with international best practices.

Tourism Police & Law Enforcement Cooperation

• Strengthening the role of Tourism Police units in ensuring traveller safety and security.
• Promoting collaborative frameworks between local authorities, law enforcement, and the tourism sector.
• Developing training programs for tourism police forces on crisis response, cultural awareness, and visitor assistance.
• Enhancing the use of technology and smart policing solutions to improve visitor protection.

Global Knowledge Exchange & Capacity-Building

• Organizing regional and global workshops on crisis management in tourism.
• Facilitating peer-to-peer learning and expert-led knowledge sharing.

White Paper on Security and Safety in the Tourism Sector

In collaboration with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA–NEPAD) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), UN Tourism developed a three-volume White Paper to provide destination managers, policymakers, and tourism stakeholders with comprehensive guidance on risk management, crisis preparedness, and security in tourism. The White Paper integrates global best practices and case studies, with a particular focus on the African region and its unique challenges.

Follow-up Online Workshops with African Member States

Following the publication of the White Paper, UN Tourism organized a series of online workshops with African Member States to:

• Enhance knowledge-sharing on tourism security and crisis management.
• Strengthen institutional capacities through targeted discussions and expert-led sessions.
• Develop practical recommendations tailored to the realities of tourism security in Africa.

SAFE-D Europe: Strengthening Crisis Management in European Tourism

Building on the global SAFE-D Initiative, UN Tourism launched SAFE-D Europe in collaboration with Czechia and other key partners to strengthen resilience in European tourism destinations. SAFE-D Europe focuses on crisis preparedness, response, and recovery through a structured three-phase approach:

• Before a Crisis: Risk assessments, early-warning mechanisms, and destination preparedness.
• During a Crisis: Response coordination, emergency communication, and incident management.
• After a Crisis: Recovery strategies, reputation management, and resilience-building.

SAFE-D Europe serves as a regional model for crisis preparedness in tourism, with the potential to expand and inspire similar initiatives in other regions.
 

Ensuring safety is not only about risk mitigation—it is essential for destination competitiveness, sustainable growth, and traveller confidence.
As global tourism continues to expand, proactive safety measures and crisis readiness are more critical than ever. Through SAFE-D, UN Tourism is committed to helping destinations navigate evolving risks and build a safer, more resilient future for tourism worldwide.

For more information on the Safety of Destinations Initiative and collaboration opportunities, please contact the International Development and Cooperation (IDC) department at UN Tourism: idc@unwto.org