Coming to Terms with the Post 9/11 World

The newest bombings in Indonesia should remind the entire tourism industry that terrorism continues to be a threat to tourism throughout the world. Unfortunately too many tourism professionals act as if 9/11 was a one-time event. Nothing could be further from the truth.

One of the lessons to be learned from the newest Indonesian bombing is that despite the desires of tourism and national leaders, terrorism will be with us for a long while and will threaten the tourism industry throughout the world.

While bombings tend to be the weapon of choice, there is no reason not to believe that other forms of may occur. Such an attack would dramatically change the scope of the travel and tourism industry throughout the world. Prior to 9/11, tourism around the world faced a bright future and had become the world´s largest industry. After 9/11, the travel and tourism industry faced a major, and what may be long-term, challenge.

The industry was caught, to a great extent, of its high level of vulnerably. Unfortunately, many in the travel and tourism industry were the last ones to realize that an attitudinal shift had already begun. In the past, industry leaders rarely spoke about threats to tourists in public fearing that such openness would scare away potential customers. After 9/11, security was no longer a marketing issue. Travelers are asking what real security measures are being put into place, not what cosmetic changes are taking place.

The prior common belief was that security was a “necessary evil” that added nothing to the business´ bottom line. This attitude is no longer valid. Now tourism officials must wake-up to a new attitude toward travel. Travel experts are discovering that there is a whole world of travel security conferences and scholars who have much to offer.

While acts of crime are still more common than acts of terrorism, it is terrorism, and particularly the kind that is specifically aimed at tourists, that has attracted a great deal of media coverage and scrutiny. The negative coverage caused by terrorism has cost the world´s tourism industries billions of dollars in lost revenues. For example, Egypt lost many millions of dollars due to the attack at Luxor by the Islamic Brotherhood against Japanese and European tourists.

From the tourism industry´s perspective, there is no (or little) difference between issues of safety and issues of security. Well-publicized acts that harm or destroy lives are cancers eating away at the economic foundation and reputation of a location. The travel and visitor industry then is open to both covert and overt forms of terrorism.

Tourism security professionals work in one of the most unstable and volatile areas of security. They have a constantly changing clientele, they must work with people who are on vacation and really do not wish to deal with life´s less attractive side, and who often travel with their guards down and their wallets full.