Tourism and Terrorism

  • Do you know how many terrorist attacks there were in 2022? Or 2021?

    • 3,955 in 2022; 5,463 in 2021 - twenty-eight percent drop

    • 6,701 terrorism deaths in 2022; 7,304 terrorism related deaths in 2021

    • Consistent decline since 2015, which had highest recorded levels (10,881 deaeths)

  • Decreases connected with changes throughout the globe, but focused predominantly in the Middle East.

  • Both the number of deaths and attacks down in this part of the world, but at different rates

  • Based on definition

Defining Terrorism

  • How would you define terrorism, and what are some of the main traits?

  • Premediated, politically motivated violence against non-combatants, by underground organization as a way to influence.

Characteristics of Terrorism

  • Terrorists are not often part of an official or formal military group

    • Generally disregards combat areas and neutral territory

    • Perpetrate extreme violence

    • Targets are usually those who are vulnerable to promote fear

  • Influence government decisions in support of a political or religious stand

  • Differing forms of terrorism

    • Systematic terrorism - Aimed at specific demands; targets are ‘legitimate’

    • Random terrorism - Aimed a political destabilization; maximum destruction

Contributing Factors

  • Generally occurs in cultures and societies facing instability

    • Politically weak and disenfranchised

    • Lack of law enforcement

    • Religion not a cause, but can factor in

  • Economic globalization

    • Causes inequality among states

  • Modernization

    • Removes the ‘old ways’

  • Tactical and ideological objectives

Tourism and Terrorism

  • Terrorism towards tourist very rare; more people drowned in their bathtubs

  • Impact on tourism based on context and experience

    • 9/11 highly impactful to the world

    • European terrorist attacks not as much so

    • Argentinean bombings - completely different reaction

  • Increases the intensity of response when defined as terrorism

  • Brussels terrorist claim 2016 Euro Cup was the real target

Impacts of attacks - Bali

  • Generated 25% of Indonesia’s foreign exchange

  • 57% decrease in number of tourists

  • 18% occupancy rate in hotels

  • 2.7 million tourism workers unemployed

Tourism Impacts - Paris

  • Luxury hotel bookings down 50%; overall bookings decreased by 30%

  • Most popular destination in the world (France)

  • Borders closing

Tourism Impacts - Las Vegas

  • Drop in stock prices of major businesses located on the strip

  • Increased security

  • Over $600 million in costs to those impacted

  • Over $1 billion in insurance

  • Drop of four percent in tourism

Why Tourists?

  • Risk and its impact

  • Tourism accept some level of risk when traveling; terrorism goes beyond

  • Attacks damage image

  • Even a perception of risk impacts behavior

Why Tourist and Tourism?

  • Tourism ideologically opposed to terrorism

    • Terrorists target to achieve goals

    • Instantly dramatizes events

    • Destabilization, punishment and legitimacy

  • Socio cultural reasons

    • Class clashed - conspicuous consumption

Impacts on Tourism

  • Economic impacts

  • Alters behavior of tourists

  • More likely to cancel trips

  • Terrorists attacks in Spain - severe drop off of tourist

  • Impacts earning; terrorist activity in 1980s caused European tourism to lose $105 billion

Tourism Impacts

  • Destination image

    • Travelers want secure image

    • Impact an entire related region

  • Socio-economic impacts

    • Reinforce differences among local and travelers

    • Forced stereotyping

Interesting things to consider…

Share commonalities

  • Crossing of borders

  • Utilize technology

  • Globalization

  • Media Management

Why are some attacks more impactful?

  • Otherness

  • We relate to those people and cultures that are culturally closer to us

  • Many terror attacks every year, yet we really only remember some

  • Those that impact western cultures

What Does It All Lead to?

  • Tourism and terrorism share many differences, but also some commonalities

  • Tourist industry is highly resilient, and many countries are highly dependent on tourists

    • Tourism is a good thing, and increases liberty, equality and understanding

    • Terrorism is not going to disappear, and will mutate with the times and technology

  • Yet, many countries attempt to go above secretarian violence and terrorism, and take more free, democratic approach