The gaming industry in Las Vegas could prove prey for terrorists because of its visibility and dependence on leisure travel

Terrorists pick targets where strikes would have "high economic consequences, where there are chances the loss of life would be high, that are iconic (symbolic) and where there is easy access to publicity," Peter Tarlow, a federal expert on tourism security, said Tuesday. 파워볼사이트 추천

Tarlow will be a featured speaker next week at a conference in Las Vegas aimed at casino executives and increasing security in the gaming industry.

The conference is being sponsored by the Washington-based consulting company Homeland Education Resource Organization (HERO), with support from the Department of Homeland Security and the Risk and Insurance Management Society.

"Look at Las Vegas. You have issues of lots of media, lots of crowds, lots of economic consequences and lots of icons, famous hotels," said Tarlow, who is head adviser on tourism security for the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Las Vegas' dependence on leisure travel underscores its vulnerability "because visitors always have the option not to go," he said.

Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority spokeswoman Erika Brandvik said that "certainly with the high profile homeland security enjoys and its implication for travel, it's important for visitors to know destinations are acting responsibly."

Brandvik said while Las Vegas residents regard major resorts as being highly visible, she didn't think Las Vegas would be regarded as a major economic center.

"Still, it's only prudent to prepare ourselves," she said.

Capt. Mike McClary, who is in charge of homeland security for the Las Vegas Police Department, agreed that terrorists would not regard Las Vegas as a central commercial hub.

"Does Las Vegas have to be concerned with terrorism? Absolutely. (But) any community that has an economy based on discretionary spending like ours has to be cognizant of the threats involved," he said.

Still, HERO managing director Marcus Cohen said, "Casinos need to understand that more security means more profits. People will come to Las Vegas if they feel safe. Even if there is an incident, people will come when they feel safe."

To protect themselves from terrorism, Tarlow said casinos "need good training, need to invest in security, need crisis management teams and need to work on issues of surety, not security."

Said McClary: "Terrorism is real and the issues we are dealing with are real. Still, the (gaming) industry in this community has done a better job than the industry across the country."

Cohen said up to 500 attendees are expected at the conference on "Gambling with Security: Hospitality and Gaming Face High Stakes," Tuesday and Wednesday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.