25 Aug, 2003
Terrorism to Continue Until Arab-Israeli Problem is Solved, Says New Report
A report on the relationship between terrorism and tourism says that terrorism will never end as long as the Arab-Israeli problem remains unresolved and Israel remains in occupation of Palestine.
TERRORISM TO CONTINUE UNTIL ARAB-ISRAELI PROBLEM IS SOLVED, SAYS NEW REPORT
A report on the relationship between terrorism and tourism says that terrorism will never end as long as the Arab-Israeli problem remains unresolved and Israel remains in occupation of Palestine.
The report, prepared by Travel Impact Newswire, says that merely boosting security will offer little by way of improved security but certainly go a long way towards boosting the stock prices of technology and security companies.
“Never in the history of travel will such massive amounts have to be spent to protect so many from so few.
“Once purchased, the equipment and its accompanying training and upgrades will suck up money like a powerful vacuum cleaner, grossly exacerbating the leakage factor from tourism, especially for developing countries.”
The report challenges the World Travel & Tourism Council to come up with a global estimate of how much boosting security will cost the industry, and further challenges the World Tourism Organization to assess how that money could be better used to alleviate poverty and provide sanitation, clean water, health and education in many parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The report notes that the travel & tourism industry is becoming the meat in the sandwich of “terrorism” and the “war on terror.” It stresses that terrorism itself is not a new phenomena, having been resorted to by Sikhs, Jews, Tamil Tigers, the Irish, Basques and many more groups seeking independence and a homeland.
It says the recent attack on the JW Marriott indicates that it is time for US travel & tourism companies to start influencing the pro-Israeli policies of their government. The report is accompanied by two tables showing how much US lodging and hospitality companies contribute to political campaigns and lobbyists in the US, with one of the tables focusing specifically on contributions by hotel chains, including the Marriott.
Says the report, “This brief discussion paper is designed to be a thought-prompter on a controversial yet far-reaching issue that will decide the future course of the travel & tourism industry for years to come. It is meant to instigate public debate and probe the depths of new solutions to new crisis.
“While not as comprehensive or exhaustive as it could be, it does present certain issues that seek to pursue another perspective on the scourge of terrorism and the possibility of ending it not just through more violence but through democratic, peaceful and practical means.”
The report is attracting positive feedback. Here is a sample:
Louis dAmore, President, International Institute of Peace Through Tourism: “You clearly gave the analysis a lot of thought and are to be commended for taking a stand.”
Alwin Zecha, Chairman, Pacific Leisure Group and Life Member, Pacific Asia Travel Association: “I think the report is very cogently argued and raises a number of very critical issues that have so far not figured on the global travel & tourism agenda but which the industry will clearly need to think seriously about in future.”
John Koldowski, Managing Director, Strategic Intelligence Centre, Pacific Asia Travel Association (views expressed in a strictly personal and private capacity): “I certainly agree that there are many layers to the issue of terrorism and how the world can and is responding to these threats is certainly costing us dearly in time, effort and sheer dollars. Not to mention the tragic cost in lives. I notice also, that others, like myself are beginning to question the long-term viability of ‘band-aid’ solutions to terrorism per se and see an emerging need to understand and deal with the root causes of what is extreme disaffection with the state of our world today.
“Our industry alas, while having very little impact on correcting issues such as these, nonetheless pays a very high price in terms of suffering the effects of such actions. We are no longer on the fringe looking inward, we are heavily targeted and therefore involved in developments relating to safety and security, at a global as well as a personal level.
“It is timely therefore that the study identifies some of these less-than-direct impacts upon us and gratifying in that it posts some possible actions that can be taken to move towards a more peaceful and positive outcome for all of us. There are problems ahead certainly but isn’t it about time we took off our rose-coloured glasses and looked to the real cause/effect relationship of terrorism?”
The report is now available for free distribution.
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