Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to explore why tourists continue to visit troubled and often violent nations, even when there is perceived risk. Tourism and terrorism reflect very different philosophies, but there are also some disturbing commonalities. Both need modern technology to be effective, both rely heavily on media management and both require the manipulation of perceptions and attitudes. Design/methodology/approach -The paper uses historical evidence to examine the rise and fall in world travel and tourism demand related to acts of terrorism. Findings -The paper observes that the Caribbean experienced a 13.5 percent decline in US visitors after the 9/11 terrorist attack in the USA and this led to the temporary loss of an estimated 365,000 jobs. Practical implications -The paper considers the fact that Jamaica suffers the equivalent of one 9/11 incident each week in terms of the percentage of the population killed by organized crime and gangs. It concludes that crime does not have the same effect as terrorism in terms of deterring tourists and that tourists demonstrate a willingness to visit countries where security risks are significantly higher than in their home country. Originality/value -The paper compares and contrasts the experience of 9/11 in New York with two bombings in Buenos Aires, and shows the remarkable extent to which even the experience of something as shocking as a terrorist attack is mediated through cultural values.

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In spite of all technological advances in favor of humankind to promote travel, people are experiencing an increasing fear of travelling or flying. Most likely, the events of September 11, 2001, not only increased the risk perception but also brought to attention the importance of security in tourism. Whatever the case may be, the present article is aimed at critically discussing the contributions and limitations of psychoanalysis as well as system psychology, risk travel perception and secure base theory. Paradoxically, in a context wherein more people make use of mass means of transport, a considerable number of travelers feel a major discomfort because of security issues. Of course, progress and development in the last few years have converged on the idea that even if the fear of travelling could be studied regardless of time and country, evidence suggests that, in western Societies, these kinds of psychological attitudes have spread pandemically. Under these circumstances, it is important to discuss the contributions and problems that current theories demonstrates in applied research.

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