Watch: Boosting tourism in the era of global terrorism
According to a recently-published State Department report, there were 8,584 terrorist attacks worldwide in 2017, resulting in the deaths of about 14,000 people.
By CHARLES BYBELEZER/THE MEDIA LINEUpdated: OCTOBER 11, 2018 08:12Tourists float in the Red Sea(photo credit: RONEN ZVULUN / REUTERS)
Hundreds of people from across the globe descended on Jerusalem this week for the first annual International Tourism Security Summit, as speakers and attendees exchanged ideas on how to protect travelers from the scourge of terrorism.According to a recently-published State Department report, there were 8,584 terrorist attacks worldwide in 2017, resulting in the deaths of about 14,000 people.While most attacks occurred in war-torn countries such as Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, their incidence in relatively stable nations ranging from Thailand to Turkey to Israel have created a perception of danger that impacts tourists’ decision-making process.Indeed, one of the central themes of the conference was the importance of providing individuals with accurate details when attacks do occur, in order to dispel the notion that because one specific location may be turbulent so too must others nearby.The Media Line takes a closer look at some of the challenges facing places that are economically-reliant on tourism.
