• Drone shot of Greenspun Hall during the day
  • Picture of Greenspun Hall at night
  • Picture of Thomas and Mack with the Strip in the background
  • Distant image of the High Roller
  • Picture overlooking Las Vegas Strip

Tourist Safety Institute

Enhancing safety and security in the tourism industry through innovative researched-based solutions.

Mission

The UNLV Tourist Safety Institute is housed in the UNLV Greenspun College of Urban Affairs. The institute will work with faculty across UNLV, and local, state, and federal authorities and community stakeholders to develop community resilience solutions and policies that enhance the safety and well-being of Nevada’s tourists, citizens, and the tourism industry. The institute will draw upon the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs’ research expertise in crime science, trauma-informed care, crisis communication, policymaking, conflict resolution, and crowd management. Interdisciplinary teams in the college will collect, document, develop, and disseminate innovative techniques to plan for and implement safe, large-scale events. Research projects will be conducted in partnership with industry professionals to further foster organizational and community coordination to support secure and safe tourist locations. Priorities for the institute include disseminating data through webinars, podcasts, and conferences.

Research is vital to understanding problems and creating solutions. The Tourist Safety Institute will help stakeholders make informed decisions and refine strategies as they prepare large scale events and create exciting entertainment opportunities. The Tourist Safety Institute will specifically focus on the following areas.

  • Planning for Major Events
  • Addressing Tourist Vulnerabilities
  • Responding to Crowd Dynamics
  • Improving Homeland Security
  • Policymaking 

Safety Solutions

  • The Tourist Safety Institute will share the knowledge created to enhance the safety and security of visitors to Nevada and Las Vegas.
  • The institute will create accessible digital content such as reports, graphics, case studies, videos, and podcasts.
  • Faculty researchers will host conferences and webinars, and will create training materials for stakeholders.

Tourist Safety Institute

The development of the Tourist Safety Institute is an important part of UNLV’s community engagement focus. The center partners with local agencies and organizations as well as state, national, and international groups to develop effective strategies to prepare, mitigate, and respond to tourist safety issues.

About the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs

The Greenspun College of Urban Affairs’ mission is to promote community solutions and resilience. Students in the college learn the knowledge and skills to make a positive impact in their communities. The college’s academic programs address community resiliency, mental health and social well-being, youth homelessness, crime and safety, storytelling, civic engagement, communication, collaboration, community engagement, leadership and public policy. The college’s cutting-edge curriculum, research programs, and private-public partnerships prepare students with workforce skills necessary to ensure they are successful and ready for an adaptable, resilient, and dynamic workforce.

Contact Us

We look forward to partnering with our community members. For further information, contact us at tsi@unlv.edu or 725-253-1822.