MUMBAI – Lessons Learned

While many may not know it, Mumbai is often characterized as the ‘New York of India.’  This city of 13.6 million residents is the entertainment and financial capital of India and is known for its openness, opportunity and diversity of communities and cultures.

That such a horrific incident as the recent terrorist attacks could occur in Mumbai simply reinforces the fact that such an incident could occur anywhere.  Mumbai is just the latest in a list that includes New York, Washington, Bali, Madrid and London.  The lessons learned from the Mumbai terrorist attacks, therefore, are universal lessons that apply to anyone who travels internationally.

First and foremost, the Mumbai tragedy reminds us that preparation is crucial, even in seemingly trivial matters.  Travelers should:

• Be vigilant and aware of their surroundings at all times
• Spend a few minutes getting to know the layout of their hotel, including stairways and side entrances
• Consult with their hotel concierge to identify areas of the city that should be avoided or that may require increased vigilance
• Exercise caution in business transactions and in interaction with strangers
• Use marked, licensed taxis rather than private “gypsy” cabs, and negotiate fees and destinations in advance
• Have a GSM-enabled, fully-charged cell phone with international calling capability and pre-programmed phone numbers for the US Embassy or Consulate and SecurAssist
• Provide an itinerary to a friend or family member, along with a copy of passport

Travelers should be familiar with the areas they are visiting – and not just in terms of the most popular tourist attractions and best methods of public transportation. Visitors should make every effort to familiarize themselves with the political and security climates of their respective destinations—there are excellent resources available on securassist.com and assistamerica.com for this purpose.  In the case of Mumbai, travelers would have been aware that India has suffered a wave of bomb attacks in recent years and that Mumbai has been targeted on several occasions, including a series of rush-hour train bombings in July 2006.  While this history should not have discouraged travelers from visiting Mumbai, it would have underlined the need for a heightened level of vigilance in the city’s crowded spaces.

Second, with reports of Mumbai attackers singling out British and American citizens among groups of foreigners, travelers of this origin should continue to avoid ostentatious dress or activities that call attention to themselves.  This is not a suggestion that travelers disavow their homeland – rather, it is a reminder that ‘blending in’ is a smart travel strategy that can pay enormous dividends.

Finally, the Mumbai attacks taught us once again the unfortunate lesson that total security is an impossibility.  Modern societies can never completely insulate themselves from episodes of this nature.  The Mumbai attackers’ targets included a movie theater, a hospital, a Jewish center and two luxury hotels. It would be foolish to suggest that moviegoers in Mumbai were putting their lives at risk by catching an evening show.  These victims, like all other victims of terrorism, were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

This is one reason why services like SecurAssist exist.  While travelers may not be able to prevent violence, instability and panic, they do have the tools necessary to mitigate them.  With the thorough preparation outlined above, constant vigilance and a support network of experienced security professionals, SecurAssist customers will have in place an effective strategy for safe and fulfilling travel all over the globe.