When the Forecasts Fail: Terrorism and Tourism

Security at a destination has always been a major factor in destination choice. However, till a few years back the security factors taken into consideration by the tourists would include mugging, petty crimes like theft, pickpocketing, etc. as the tourists' life was not endangered even at the worst politically instable destinations. Such concerns had a minimal impact on tourism forecasts as to some extent most of the destinations suffer from one or the other. Today, the security concerns have undergone a thorough change because of global terrorism. This paper after citing some attacks on tourist destinations and their impacts on tourists' mobility and choice takes into account the need for incorporating certain preventive measures against terrorism in planning for tourism in different areas. It further raises the issue of bearing the costs in this regard.