The International Tourism Safety Conference celebrated its 20th anniversary in Las Vegas this year. Run over three days (22-24 April) the programme covered a wide spectrum of tourism safety issues and international perspectives. Leading off on day one was a workshop by conference organiser Dr Peter Tarlow, providing a history of the field and identifying common issues that would reappear throughout the conference. In particular, Tarlow emphasised that since September 11, 2001, the tourism industry has had to accept that it must survive in a world where both crime and terrorism are problems. To be successful as a tourist destination now requires citizens and tourism officials joining with law enforcement agencies in what Tarlow calls a ‘partnership-for-tourism surety’.