Can Tourism Can Overcome the threat of Terrorism ?

For the tourism industry globally the most important point about last week’s alleged abortive airline bombing plot was that a terrorist atrocity DIDN’T occur and through vigilant police and security services efforts the alleged plot was foiled. While some people may be spooked about flying as a consequence of the media frenzy, the more positive message is that security measures are working and there is good reason to be confident about flying on commercial airlines.

Certainly the heightened security measures at airports and the draconian restrictions on hand baggage imposed by the airlines and the authorities in the UK and the USA have aroused acres of publicity, For a number of reasons these measures will need to be reviewed.  However, it must be said that in this instance, a security overreaction is more easily corrected than an under-reaction. 

Its noticeable to almost any frequent traveller that the amount of “hand baggage” many international airlines have permitted on board their aircraft in recent years has reached ludicrous proportions. A small minority of passengers have lurched onto airlines with what appears to be their entire worldly goods without being questioned by airline crew, check-in staff or security officials. The new restrictions are a tacit admission that hand baggage has long presented many opportunities for terrorists.

However, the emergency hand baggage restrictions which have the potential to put duty free retailers at airports out of business, deny women their legitimate cosmetic contents of their handbags, and business passengers their laptop computers or even relevant business documents and all passengers bottled water, will need to be reviewed once the emergency has abated. 

However, the averted airline bombing plot has a positive aspect.  While it has frightened some people and inconvenienced many travellers, security authorities have demonstrably learned many of the lessons for the September 11, 2001.  After 9/11 airline and airport security services and regulations were significantly enhanced globally. The USA and the UK have been especially vigilant.  The travel industry should be encouraging people to continue flying.

While most British Muslims are loyal citizens of the UK, there is a minority of Muslims which have been mentally seduced by Islamist organisations dedicated to a perverted belief that “martyrdom” which also results in the killing of a maximum number of non-believers will somehow create a better world.

The police and security services have no alternative but to maintain surveillance on such groups. This need was amplified in the by the July 2005 London suicide bombings. However, around the world we see evidence of these groups practicing this extremist philosophy almost every day.

The tourism industry should not treat the aborted bomb plot as a crisis event but as an opportunity promote international air travel  as a safe way to travel. This message needs to be hammered to the media which has performed its usual task of apocalyptic reporting. Certainly informal surveys conducted by media outlets suggest that most people intend to continue flying which is positive evidence that most travellers have weathered the storm of media sensationalism. 

The event also is a wake up call for other forms of travel and other segments of the toursm industry.   Do the operators of cruise lines, international ferry boats, international trains and coach operators meet the safety and security standards of the airlines and international airports ? 

The answer has long been an emphatic no. In the current climate any of them are potential terrorist targets. We have already seen recent terrorist attacks at railway stations, restaurants, buses, nightclubs and hotels. In fact each part of the tourism cycle has its own specific area of security concerns and clearly urgent reviews are necessary. 

The tourism industry has every right to quietly celebrate the fact that this alleged plot appears to have been foiled but we cannot afford to drop our collective guard. Certainly all parts of the tourism industry need to ensure they have contingency plans for any of the potential and actual security threats they may encounter.

Terrorism is an enemy of tourism and because attacks and threats to tourists generate massive international publicity, mothers milk for terrorist organisations, tourism professionals have to remain especially vigilant. Tourism, not through any political choice but because of it international and public profile is in the front line of the global struggle against terrorism.

The tourism and hospitality industry requires a co-ordinated global approach to security management to maximise its defence against a terrorist threat which will continue to present a challenge  for the forseeable future.  

David Beirman is the Director of Struan & Associates

Tourism Crisis and Recovery Specialists

E mail [email protected]