July 14, 2010, 3:54 PM — While many people are getting ready for their summer vacations, security professionals at tourist attractions around the country are preparing to ramp up their efforts. A recent Harris May Poll finds 66% of Americans will take a summer vacation this year--good news for the country's $704 billion tourism industry, which relies heavily on summer travel each year.
The last thing travelers have on their mind during vacation is security, and the top tourist sites around the U.S. want it to stay that way. But that doesn't come without an intense amount of preparation and work by officials in charge of security at tourist sites, according to Bill Farrar, senior vice president, operations & business development with security firm Andrews International. From museums and monuments, to theme parks and movie studios, there are different and unique challenges to securing each type of site.
"There is a different culture in each place, and that also depends on the state and part of the country it's in, too," said Farrar. "Security needs to be geared for the needs of that site."
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Farrar, who during his career has overseen executive protection and investigations, including stalking problems, to ensure the welfare of numerous entertainment and executive clients of Andrews International, gives us a rundown of the security needs at some of the popular destinations sites for summer vacation.
Movie studio (Examples: Universal Studio, Warner Brothers Studio, Paramount Studio)
The biggest security concern in a movie studio where the public is allowed to come on site for tours is keeping those people that are working there feeling comfortable, said Farrar.
"They need to feel that they are able to do their jobs without being bothered or threatened by the general population," he said. "Everyone thinks of terrorism when it comes to security, but it's as much as the obsessed fan or stalker that can be anywhere from a pest to being deadly. You are dealing with all levels of it."
The challenge is to keep security tight while also allowing for employees to work without feeling too hindered. That means access control that is both appropriate and secure.
"We try and make the person who is there working every day feel comfortable going to work and that they are not going to be bothered and are free to do what they need to do."
Landmark site or museum (Examples: Washington monument, Statue of Liberty, Smithsonian Museums)
Depending on the nature of the site, they can truly be a target for security incidents, said Farrar. Many landmarks and museums have now implemented magnetometers for visitors to pass through before entering the building. This can cause a mixed reaction among tourists.
"Some people are fine, ready to go through it. Other people don't want to be bothered and will walk through and try and create a confrontation so you will confront them - they're hoping for some kind of legal dispute. Some people figure if they walk on through and act like they belong they'll just be allowed to go through."
Farrar said it is important for security personnel at these types of places to be changed out to varying roles frequently so they can stay sharp in the face of some of these challenges.
"Someone who is standing at the door for eight or nine hours without relief is going to get lax and not do their job."
Farrar said the other important role security folks must play at landmarks and museums is customer service representative.
"You want things to be secure, but also to appear as friendly and unthreatening as possible. So, it's going up to visitors and saying 'Hi, how are you? Can I help you find something?' At the same time you want a bad guy when he walks up to it know you mean business here. Greeting them lets them know that they are being watched."
Also see
Museum security: The art of securing pricelessness and
the slideshow Hoover Dam security in pictures
Public spaces (Examples: Time Square, the Las Vegas Strip)
Because areas that are public spaces are not officially controlled by any one person or organization, security in these areas requires a combined effort between citizens and police.
