Economic consequences on tourism

Using a civilian aircraft as a suicide bomb had a major effect on the confidence of travellers and their travel behaviours worldwide.

For the first time in 20 years the number of tourists declined. While in 2000 tourism increased overall by 7.4 percent, in 2001 it dropped 1.3 percent. Even months after the events of September 11 air traffic inside and into the United States was limited. Providers of intercontinental flights like German "Lufthansa" or "British Airways" were sharply restrained by the downturn of travellers. Additional costs for better air security and increased insurance premiums had to be paid. While American airlines received $15 billion from the U.S. government European airlines were left to fend for themselves. The already weakened Swiss airline "Swissair" had to report insolvency.

The American tourism industry was hit very heavily. Usually 95 percent of the tourists who visit Miami arrive by air. This situation faded away after September 11. Although many hotels halved their prices, attendance nonetheless fell rapidly. For instance, the occupancy at the "Loew's", one of the Miami Beach five star hotels, dropped from 80 percent to 30. U.S. politicians advised American citizens to intercede for their country's own tourist industry by spending their holidays in other U.S. states.

This situation was recurring in tourist destinations all over the world. Some holiday hotels in Thailand "experienced a fifty percent drop in North American travellers and a thirty percent drop in European travellers" in 2001. The Thai government started an advertising campaign called "Be My Guest" to promote natural attractions so that foreign visitors would quickly come back bringing capital to the tourist orientated Thailand.

Arabian countries have been affected as well. Tourists avoided traditional Middle East attractions. Egypt was particularly hard hit. Tourism earned the government over $4 billion in 2000, and more than two million Egyptians worked in this industry.

The tourist industry was the first to be hit, but compared to other branches people quickly got back to normal and travelled like before.

Active vocabulary

1. far reaching consequences

2. apparent terrorist attack

3. to upgrade its terrorism alert status to "delta

4. launched strikes against Bin Laden's training camps and Taliban facilities.

5. allows law enforcement officials to wiretap phones to

6. break into offices or homes without prior notification

7. to deport or detain non-citizens without judicial appeal.

8. to amass information during terrorism investigations

9. tighter controls on the right of asylum

10. agreed on the establishment of a European arrest warrant

11. was a period marred by civil war

12. downturn of travellers

13. attacks quashed a whole generation of Americans' illusion to

14. preach dialogue and diplomacy

Comprehension check

I. Answer the following questions to check how carefully you have read the texts:

TEXT A

1. Which targets did the terrorists choose?

2. What decision did Mr. Bush and his security advisors come to in Camp-David on

September 15, 2001?

3. Why was the war in Afganistan started?

4. What does “USA Patriot Act” mean?

5. What structural changes were made in CIA and FBI?

6. What are the main aims of German “Ratserfahndung”?

7. Did Russia take steps to help USA in combatting terrorism?

8. Did USA have allies in Islamic and Arabic states?

9. What were the original tasks of Al-Quaeda?

10. Who were the founders of Taliban regime and how did it come to power?

11. What does “Operation Enduring Freedom” mean?

12. What were the results of the invasion of the US troops to Afganistan?

TEXT B

1. Which industries brought in more earnings after 9/11 and why?

2. What were the consequences of terrorist attacks for the world market?

3. How did radio stations and TV channels react?

4. Did the travel behavior change?

5. What were the major consequences of this change?

6. Which countries suffered from the decline of tourists?

7. What kind of books became the most readable and why?

8. Did U.S. politicians try to save American entertainment industry from insolvency?

9. What steps did they take?

10. Having analysed the consequences of 9/11, can we speak about global changes?

TEXT C

1. How did life of ordninary people change?

2. What fears arouse after the attacks?

3. What positive change could be observed?

4. Where did people go to find security?

5.Why did violence against Muslims begin to increase?

6.What was the main difference between the points of view of Americans and people in the

7.Middle East when asked about the main reasons of terrorist attacks of 9/11?

8.Were there any antiwar demonstrations and where did they take place?

9.Is there any strategy to combat terrorism and what steps can be taken?

10.How can governments prevent terrorist attacks?

11.How can the rights of minorities be protected if they often contradict the rights of

majority?