VEGAS INC Archives
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano today asked representatives of the world’s tourism industry for suggestions to streamline airport security bottlenecks that discourage people from traveling.
Napolitano, speaking in Las Vegas at the Global Travel and Tourism Summit at Aria, said the challenge of protecting millions of passengers who board airliners daily is that new technology to detect explosives, poisons and other toxic materials not only has to be efficient, but scalable to move people quickly.
“We’re moving away from the one-size-fits-all security model,” Napolitano said on the last day of the event that brought about 1,000 people to hear top government and business leaders discuss tourism issues.
Turner Enterprises CEO Ted Turner and Mexican President Felipe Calderon are also scheduled to speak today.
Napolitano said one long-term solution is to further develop trusted traveler programs such as “Global Entry,” a screening process for frequent fliers that would expedite security checks. She said the United States has established a standard for information needed to register a trusted traveler and has reached agreements with Canada, Mexico and the Netherlands to include international travelers from those countries.
Nearly 1 million travelers from those four countries are registered for Global Entry, and that number could double by next year. She said the Transportation Security Administration is testing a recognition-based system to identify airline pilots, a system that could be expanded if successful.
Napolitano, secretary of the federal government’s third-largest agency, said the biggest issue for passengers is “divestiture,” the process of removing coats, shoes and belt buckles at checkpoints.
Napolitano said the agency is working on a solution for shoe removal. She said she worked a TSA checkpoint on the day before Thanksgiving and got a firsthand look at the magnitude of that issue.
Homeland Security has simplified its security alert system, eliminating the color codes system. Critics have said the new terminology is just as confusing as the color-coded system.
Napolitano said the traveling public can participate in improving security with a program Las Vegans are familiar with: “If you see something, say something.”
Transportation companies, airports and rail systems have adopted and publicized the program, which encourages people to notify authorities if they see unattended luggage, backpacks or packages.
Metro Police embraced “If you see something, say something” in December and has publicized the program on billboards and hotel signs.