Tourism officials: Safety still top priority after Osama bin Laden strike

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Local tourism leaders say they’ll continue to stay vigilant against terrorist threats regardless of Sunday’s announcement that Navy SEALs had killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.

The Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security maintained the same level of terrorism awareness at the nation’s airports and local experts said Las Vegas resorts should continue to stay alert despite the death of the al-Qaeda leader responsible for the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

Several tourism industry leaders also joined the chorus of praise for President Obama and the military team that cornered bin Laden, shot him to death and buried his body at sea.

“TSA continually evaluates the latest threats and screening measures which are implemented based on the latest intelligence,” said Carrie Harmon, a spokeswoman for the agency that operates security checkpoints at McCarran International Airport.

“As always, passengers may notice a variety of security measures at U.S. airports, including the use of explosives detection technology, physical bag checks, random gate screening, canine teams and behavior detection officers,” Harmon said. “We ask the traveling public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.”

A spokesman for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said keeping visitors safe has become a part of the local culture and bin Laden’s death won’t change that.

“While it’s a significant development, the focus will remain the same,” said Vince Alberta,” vice president of public affairs for the LVCVA. “Everybody needs to remain vigilant to ensure the goal of having a safe environment for visitors as well as the residents of Southern Nevada.”

Gordon Absher, a spokesman for MGM Resorts International, said local resorts team with law enforcement professionals to protect the public.

“Our resorts remain in regular contact with Homeland Security and the Southern Nevada Counter-Terrorism Center,” he said. “We share information and work in concert to create a broad net of intelligence that covers our entire community.”

Homeland Security opted not to raise the National Terrorism Alert Advisory System level after Sunday’s announcement despite warnings of terrorist reprisals after the successful raid.

Janet Napolitano issued a statement that the agency isn’t fixated on one individual and will continue to base its alerts on credible intelligence information.

“I have been clear since announcing (the alert system) in January that we will only issue alerts when we have specific or credible information to convey to the American public,” Napolitano said. “However, our security posture, which always includes a number of measures both seen and unseen, will continue to respond appropriately to protect the American people from an evolving threat picture both in the coming days and beyond.”

Brian Krolicki

Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, who chairs the Nevada Commission on Tourism, applauded the efforts of the military and the Nevada National Guard.

“Nevadans have been at the front lines in support of the global war on terrorism and on behalf of all Nevadans we are thankful for their bravery and the sacrifices they and their families have made to keep us safe and free,” he said.

“In our flight attendant union we found comfort in one another and the courage to get back on airplanes to usher passengers and fellow crewmembers home to their loved ones,” said a statement issued by union officers Veda Shook, Sara Nelson and Kevin Creighan.

“Every day since Sept. 11, flight attendants go to work with an even greater sense of responsibility. We know that not only are we first responders to emergencies affecting the health and safety of our passengers and other crewmembers, we are also our nation’s last line of defense in aviation security.”