SATSA has welcomed the official opening of the SECURA Traveller Operations Centre (STOC), a monumental step in elevating national tourism safety. The centre was opened by the Tourism Minister, Patricia de Lille, on Thursday, 31 August 2023. In a collaborative endeavour spearheaded by the National Tourism Safety Forum and the TBCSA Safety Committee, in conjunction with various other public and private sector stakeholders, months of relentless work has materialised in a comprehensive national tourism safety strategy. At the core of this strategy is immediate reaction when an incident occurs. The STOC, implemented in partnership with Business Against Crime South Africa, functions as the central nervous system, orchestrating and harmonising safety response mechanisms and Traveller Support services for distressed tourists. The STOC has been meticulously designed as the focal point for reporting and managing all tourism-related incidents, either with immediate response through the SECURA Traveller app (endorsed by the Minister of Tourism) or via the newly launched 24-hour national tourism safety hotline+27 (0) 83 318 2475. The ultimate goal is to offer peace of mind for all who travel in SA through immediate response and professional support, to aggregate safety reports, pinpoint hotspots, deploy resources efficiently, and initiate aftercare, thereby guaranteeing a safer travel experience for both inbound and domestic tourists. SATSA has been one of the driving forces in shaping the strategy and the STOC. Our involvement reflects our unwavering commitment to tourism safety, and we encourage all members to promote SECURA Traveller and the hotline. Key initiatives that we've been a part of: | 
