Secretariat - Action against Terrorism Unit

VIENNA, 6 September 2011 – An OSCE-organized workshop on public-private partnerships in enhancing tourism security, held upon the initiative of the US and Russia, will start in Vienna on 8 September.

The workshop will gather more than 100 experts in tourism security from state agencies, international organizations, travel associations and research institutions. Topics of discussions will include economic impact of terrorism on tourism, the role of the national police, ways and good practices to counter terrorism and enhance security in tourism attractions and destinations, as well as the relevance of public private partnerships for this purpose.

Ambassador Renatas Norkus, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Lithuania to the OSCE and Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council; Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri, Chairperson of the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee; Anne Witkowsky, Deputy Coordinator for Homeland Security and Multilateral Affairs, Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, U.S. Department of State; Alexey Yudintsev, Deputy Director of the New Challenges and Threats Department of the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Ambassador Fernando Valderrama, Head of Mission, Permanent Mission of Spain to the OSCE; as well Dirk Glaesser, Chief, Risk and Crisis Management, World Tourism Organization, will deliver welcoming remarks during the event.

Journalists are invited to the opening of the workshop from 14:30 to 15:30 on Thursday, 8 September 2011, at the Neuer Saal of the Hofburg Congress Centre.

For admittance to the Hofburg Congress Centre, please bring a valid press card to the security desk (main entrance from the Heldenplatz). Please note that no parking will be available on Heldenplatz.