Rethinking international tourism in the face of the terrorist threat

Abstract

Since the events of 11 September 2001, it seems that no country is safe from the threat of terrorism. In the face of the radical changes that have occurred in terms of international tourism and safety, it is important to remember the links that exist between terrorism and tourism. Tourists may be seen by terrorists as representatives of their country, thus becoming targets with strong symbolic value. The traditional distinction between high-risk and safe regions has become blurred in the face of growing global terrorism. For tourism, it is therefore necessary to develop risk management strategies at an international level in different regions of the world. Tourist destinations that experience periods of social, economic, political or environmental crisis, particularly where these are protracted, put in place crisis management or disaster management strategies, based on the idea of the post-crisis recovery plan. These strategies involve policies for tourism development and marketing, and such initiatives have proved effective following relatively short-term crisis situations such as the Fijian political crisis of 2000 or the Asian tsunami of December 2004. However in regions embroiled in long-term crises, including those caused by political instability or terrorism, such measures may be inadequate. With all countries now apparently vulnerable to terrorist action, it is important to ensure that concerns regarding terrorism do not have adverse effects on the tourism industry. Strategies to manage such effects should be implemented at national, regional and international level. Regional inter-governmental cooperation in this area can prove effective in the past, as is demonstrated by the experience of efforts by Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam following the 2001 Bali bombings. The World Tourism Organization can also play a role. The recovery of tourism provides a means of restoring equilibrium in countries affected by terrorism. In this regard, the benefits of tourism as a mechanism for cultural exchange and building tolerance and understanding between cultures must be recognized.