Terrorism's Global Effect on Tourism

The Kenya attacks were largely political in nature and not specifically aimed at tourists; however they are costing Kenya one million dollars a day. (Lovgren, 2003).
             For all of these reasons, this phenomenon can properly be called "tourist terrorism.".
             It has affected tourism in the last 10 years in many ways; but perhaps not as negatively as might be thought; according to the World Tourism Organization. In 2007, international tourist arrivals grew by an estimated 6% to reach a new record figure of nearly 900 million-the 800 million was only reached two years earlier. There were nearly 52 million more arrivals than in 2006 and world tourism enjoyed its fourth consecutive year of growth in 2007 above the long-term forecast of 4.1% (WTO, 2008).
             Certain statistics do indicate the resiliency of the tourism industry, despite major setbacks. The collapse many expected did not happen and travelers continued to vacation and conduct business in all parts of the world (Intl. Terrorism, 2004).
             Despite the findings from WTO, millions of workers in the tourism industry are losing their jobs as a direct result of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Travel and tourism used to be the world's largest industry, providing one in every 12 jobs. .
             The shock waves of 9/11 extended well beyond the United States into developing countries that could ill afford the loss of revenue. This is the finding of the Worldwatch Institute, a Washington, DC-based environmental research organization. The outcome of the September 11 attacks has shown the world how important travel and tourism are to our global economy. Even more apparent is how over-dependence on tourism can devastate lives and overturn economies (Worldwatch, 2000). .
             The International Labor Organization has estimated that as many as 9 million of the world's 200 million hotel and tourism workers could lose their jobs as a result of September 11. Almost three quarters of these jobs are outside the United States and Europe, in countries that depend almost entirely on income from tourism (Intl.