Terrorism is an all-too-frequent tactic these days, and it seems there’s a hideous attack reported on the news somewhere every other week or so. We’ve almost gone numb to it. While all acts are deplorable, there’s something particularly perverse when innocent tourists are the intentional objective of the strike. These attacks certainly garner international outrage and attention, which is surely the point, but they also hurt the local economies that depend on the tourism industry. Understandably, visitors tend to stay away from regions that have been in the headlines for these nefarious reasons. However, we can’t stop traveling and exploring this diverse planet for fear of random incidents. Staying home isn’t necessarily the safe approach. As we have seen, something as simple as going to your local church, school or cinema can be met with homegrown violence. The best thing we can do is to carry on with our daily lives, taking reasonable safety and security precautions, of course, but not cowering in fear of some potential jeopardy. If we do that, as they say, the terrorists win. Let’s never forget these 10 times terrorists targeted tourists, but let’s continue to gallivant, globetrot, explore, discover and befriend across borders to honor the victims and stick it to the barbaric monsters who perpetrate these senseless acts.
1. Luxor Massacre, Egypt
One of the darkest times terrorists targeted tourists occurred in Egypt on November 17, 1997. Deir el-Bahri, across the Nile from Luxor, is one of Egypt’s main archeological sites and tourist attractions. Six gunmen, thought to be from the Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya organization, systematically slaughtered 62 people, 58 of them foreigners on holiday. Some of the bodies were mutilated by machetes. Among the tragic victims were a 5 year old British child and two Japanese honeymooners. Another attempted terrorist attack was recently thwarted at Luxor’s Karnak temple on June 12, 2015.
2. Kuta, Bali
On October 12, 2002, two popular nightclubs in Kuta, Bali were bombed in a coordinated terrorist attack primarily on foreign visitors. The death toll was 202 people: 88 Australians, 38 Indonesians, 24 British and seven Americans, among 20 other nationalities. Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a South East Asian Al Qaeda-linked militant group, was responsible for this vile incident, and several perpetrators have been tried and executed for their actions. The mastermind, Hambali, is currently rotting in a Guantanamo Bay cell. With 40% of the island’s economy based in tourism, this terrorist attack had a significant impact.
3. Jimbaran Beach and Kuta, Bali
Yet again, Bali was hit with a terrorist attack against tourists on October 1, 2005. Two explosions occurred near the Jimbaran Beach warung eateries popular with Western tourists, and another one in Kuta’s Town Square. Three suicide bombers killed 23 people and injured over 100 more. The radical terrorist network, Jemaah Islamiah, was responsible for this attack, too. Not surprisingly, tourism to Bali plummeted after this incident, but security measures have ramped up since then.
4. Multi-strike Attack, Mumbai
Mumbai tourists were the target of an extensive terrorist assault on November 26, 2008. Twelve shooting and bombing incidents occurred over four days by members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba military group. By the end of the rampage, 164 people were dead and at least 308 were wounded. Among the locations were the luxurious Taj Mahal Palace and Oberoi Trident hotels, the historic Chhatrapati Shivaji Train Station and the Leopold Cafe, a popular restaurant with foreigners. Among the casualties were 28 people from 10 different countries. These 26/11 attacks have certainly hurt tourism in India.
5. Airports in Bangkok
This wasn’t an act of an international terrorist group, but Thai protestors effectively shut down Bangkok’s two airport when they seized them in November 26, 2008. Explosions occurred in both locations and wounded four people. All departing flights were canceled and thousands of international tourists were stranded. The protesters were demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister, using the vital transportation hubs and paralyzing the tourism industry to leverage their cause.
6. Burgas Bus Bombing, Bulgaria
On July 18, 2012, a bus full of Israeli youth blew up in Burgas, Bulgaria. The 42 tourists had just flown in from Tel Aviv and were en route to their hotels when the explosion went off. Five Israelis and the Bulgarian bus driver were killed, and 32 other passengers were injured. Hezbollah operatives are thought to be responsible for this despicable terrorist attack.
7. Nairobi, Kenya
A terrorist attack by the Islamist group al-Shabaab hit an upscale Nairobi shopping mall in September, 2013. The four day Westgate Mall siege didn’t directly target tourists, but 19 foreigners of different nationalities were among 67 people killed. The mall was a popular gathering place for the political, diplomatic and expat community. This incident prompted many countries to issue strong travel advisories urging citizens not to travel there. This and other violent incidents in the country has caused Kenyan tourism to nosedive in the cities, game parks, luxury resorts and the coast.
8. Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
Egypt’s struggling tourism industry took another blow when a bus full of South Korean church-goers was hit by a suicide bomber in Taba, near the Israeli border, on Feburary 16, 2014. Four people were killed and 17 were injured in the attack. The Sinai Peninsula is popular tourist region on the Red Sea, but jihadist terrorists targeting tourists is negatively impacting the local economy. Ansar Beit Al Maqdis claimed responsibility for this cowardly attack.
9. Bardo National Museum, Tunisia
On March 18, 2015, the renowned Bardo National Museum in Tunis was attacked by three terrorists. Twenty-two people were killed in the three hour seige, most of them European tourists on a cruise, along with three Japanese, two Colombian and one Russian citizen. Fifty more people were injured. Responsibility was claimed by The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), who threatened to carry out further attacks in the country. A few days later, thousands of Tunisians and several world leaders took part in a solidarity march in Tunis to protest terrorism under the banner “The World is Bardo”.
10. Sousse Beach, Tunisia
The most recent atrocity where terrorists targeted tourists occurred in Tunisia again, on June 26, 2015. This time it was the Imperial Marhaba Hotel in the popular beach resort town of Sousse that was hit. At least 38 unsuspecting sunbathers lying on beach chairs were murdered in cold blood by 24 year old lone gunman, Seifeddine Rezgui, said to be working with ISIS. Many of the victims were UK holidaymakers along with three Irish, one German and one Belgian. Specific details about the dead and injured are still emerging. The world is shocked, saddened but not surprised at this brutal beach massacre.
You could argue that recent incidents in London, Madrid, Paris and New York are also times where terrorists targeted tourists, as these cities are full of international travelers. Nowhere is a guaranteed safe zone these days, but we cannot live in fear of extremist attacks. Keep vigilant, and travel on.
