The Impact of Terrorism on Tourism - Literature review Example

In simple terms, terrorism is the consequence of the activities of the terrorist groups to spread fear and panic in the minds of the people across different countries. The motive in the background of any terrorist activity might be summed up as follows; through the spreading of terror the terrorist aims at disrupting the social, economic, and trade activities of any region. To this end, Wilks, Pendergast, and Leggat (2006) observe that the reason for the emergence of terrorism cannot be only attributed to the factors of poverty and acute frustration related to social problems. Poverty and social frustration are not the potential contributors to the spread and development of terrorism in developed countries around the world. However, of late terrorism activities have gained further dominance owing to its growing linkage to the tourism industry. Wilks, Pendergast, and Leggat (2006) state in this regard that it is hard to uncover the reasons which have led to the growth of terrorism and its growing linkage to tourism activities. The tourism industry has become the target point for terrorism activities on an international scale owing to the slag of security and alertness. Tourists on tour tend to remain undeterred about the surrounding environment being lost in the fun of holidaying which becomes the target point for terrorists to easily lay their grounds upon. Wilks, Pendergast, and Leggat (2006) further observe that the rate of infiltration of terrorists in tourism centers has also another potential reason other than the lack of alertness of the tourists. The functions of tourism mainly occur along the principal trade routes of any region. Thus the terrorists feel that an attack on such trade and economic routes would help in disrupting the economic activities of the region. Wilks, Pendergast, and Leggat (2006) also state that the growth of tourism industries of a region or country has increased its association with other industries like food and transport. Thus a spur in the terrorism activities linked with terrorism is bound to affect the potential industries of a region contributing to the weakening of the economy. The linkage of terrorism operations with tourism industries can also be observed to be a potential factor that enables the terrorist outfits to gain considerable publicity. Tourist centers being largely linked with marketplace places helps the terrorists gain a wide amount of publicity having conducted a large massacre of human lives and property. It helps them reach their demands to the eyes and ears of the higher authorities.