Talking Points: Terrorism in Spain (August 18, 2017)
Talking Points – Spain
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The following Talking Points can be used in conversations with the media and clients when discussing travel to Spain and recent terror attacks. (August 18, 2017)
1. On August 17, 2017, numerous people were killed and injured in vehicle attacks in Barcelona and in the town of Cambrils. The U.S. State Department has no Travel Warning or Alert in effect advising Americans against travel to Spain.
2. All travelers, no matter what country they visit, can take precautions to help ensure their safety and well-being.
3. Safety is our top priority for our clients. We provide them with the facts so they can make informed decisions about their travels.
Below you will find additional information, supporting material and statistics to help further illustrate each talking point.
1. On August 17, 2017, numerous people were killed and injured in vehicle attacks in Barcelona and in the town of Cambrils. The U.S. State Department has no Travel Warning or Alert in effect advising Americans against travel to Spain.
In the late afternoon of August 17, a vehicle entered Las Ramblas at a high speed, hitting numerous pedestrians. Las Ramblas is an iconic area of Barcelona, popular with tourists and locals. More than a dozen people were killed in the attack and over 50 were injured.
o The attack was confirmed by Barcelona police as an act of terrorism and the van’s driver is still at large.
o One American was killed in the Las Ramblas attack. The New York Times noted that, “The victims came from at least 34 countries, the Spanish authorities said, highlighting how the assailants chose to target one of Europe’s busiest tourist centers, at the height of the summer season.”
Early Friday morning, there was also an attack in the seaside resort town of Cambrils, near Barcelona, where one person was killed and six injured.
o NPR reports: “Around 3 a.m. local time Friday, five men drove a car through a roadblock and plowed down a walkway along the beach in the resort town that is about 75 miles south of Barcelona”.
o “They hit pedestrians and a police officer, and then flipped the vehicle …They got out of the car, they stabbed another pedestrian. Police shot and killed all five of these men, and they were wearing fake explosive vests.”
o “Four of the five suspected terrorists were killed by a single police officer, the Mossos police of Catalonia said Friday. The men had been armed with knives and an axe.”
It’s important to note that no Travel Alert or Travel Warning has been issued by the U.S. State Department cautioning Americans traveling to Spain. The U.S. Embassy in Madrid issued two security messages stating, in part:
o “Spanish police are treating the incident as terrorism. U.S. citizens in Barcelona are urged to avoid the areas and to follow local media and other information sources for additional guidance.”
o “Review your personal security plans, remain aware of your surroundings, especially in crowds or at large events, and monitor local news sources for updates. Be vigilant and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security.”
o “If you are a U.S citizen in Barcelona and you are safe, please let family and friends know, including by updating your status on social media.”
Facebook’s safety feature has also been activated so that people in Barcelona can use the social media site to let their loved ones know they are all right.
The United Kingdom’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office does not warn against travel to Spain, but it does advise the following:
o “Over 12 million British nationals visit Spain every year. Most visits are trouble-free.”
o “Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Spain. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners. The Spanish authorities take measures to protect visitors, but you should be vigilant and follow the instructions of the local authorities.”
The Government of Canada indicates, “There is no nationwide advisory in effect for Spain. Exercise normal security precautions.”
NPR reports: “Kiosks are reopening on the promenade that was the scene of Thursday’s terror attack …Heavily armed police continue to block the area to vehicle traffic … [and] the Barcelona airport this morning was packed with arriving passengers from around the globe, suggesting many vacationers refuse to be deterred by terrorism here.”
Forbes reports that most cruise ships still plan to use Barcelona as a port of call, saying that “Barcelona calls scheduled for liners from Oceania Cruises, MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line will take place as normal on Friday and over the weekend.”
According to Cruise Critic, several cruise lines have issued statements:
o Oceania said in a statement: ‘Oceania Cruises is monitoring the situation in Barcelona and our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected. The safety and security of our guests and crew is our top priority. We have strict safety protocols in place and cooperate with local authorities regarding security matters at the destinations our ships visit. Port and onshore facilities, infrastructure, and passenger security and services in destinations are strictly scrutinized prior to a ship call. In the event of any safety concerns, we have the flexibility to alter our itineraries as needed to avoid areas of concern.’
o Meanwhile, a spokesperson for MSC said: “In the wake of yesterday’s attack all MSC Cruises shore excursions due to take place in Barcelona today have been cancelled. The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority and we are working closely with the local authorities to ensure this.”
o Disney Cruise Line has not altered plans for its ship, Disney Magic, which is slated to be in Barcelona Saturday.
2. All travelers, no matter what country they visit, can take precautions to help ensure their safety and well-being.
We recommend that U.S. citizens follow the advice of the State Department and register their travel plans at https://step.state.gov. This will help the State Department contact travelers if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or in the event an emergency transpires in the place where the individual is traveling.
o The U.S. State Department also offers a helpful guide called Traveler’s Checklist which provides additional travel tips.
o Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained through the Consular Information Program documents, by downloading the free Smart Traveler iPhone App, following the State Department on Twitter or the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook. Citizens can also call 888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, Eastern Time (except U.S. federal holidays).
We highly recommend our clients purchase travel insurance. Personal medical insurance may not cover individuals while traveling abroad, if medical attention and medical evacuation are needed.
While no one can say with certainty that any destination is 100% safe, we strongly encourage our clients to use care and common sense – no matter where they travel – to maximize their safety and security. For example:
o Leave your itinerary, and passport data page, with a friend or family member back home so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.
o Know and respect the laws in the country you are visiting.
o Remain alert to your surroundings at all times. Follow your instincts and avoid any areas or situations that seem as though they could become dangerous.
o Avoid all demonstrations, as even peaceful ones can quickly become unruly and a foreigner could become a target of harassment. If caught unexpectedly near a demonstration, obey instructions from police and leave the area as quickly as possible.
o Do not display expensive looking jewelry, large amounts of money or other valuable items. Also, do not leave luggage unattended in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.
o Check with your cell phone provider prior to departure to see if your phone is capable of roaming on GSM or 3G/4G international networks.
3. Safety is our top priority for our clients. We provide them with the facts so they can make informed decisions about their travels.
Our business is founded on repeat customers. Therefore, we want to be sure everything goes off without a hitch.
We provide the facts so our clients can make informed decisions about their travel plans.
We closely monitor the U.S. Department of State website for travel alerts for all destinations, including those that are most popular with our clients.
Should we become aware of an issue for a specific destination, we alert clients who may be planning to travel there so they can make determine for themselves if they still wish to travel.
We also work closely with respected airlines, hotels, resorts, cruise lines, tour operators and other suppliers to remain informed of security precautions they’re taking to guard our clients’ safety.