final post

 

 

 

 

1. Identify cross-border phenomena influencing the international tourism system

 

Cross border phenomena are very important and related to my topic.  Tourism and terrorism is not specific to any one country, it is more of a regional issue.

 

 

2. Identify current travel issues impacting the international tourism industry

 

My topic is about how people are scared to travel to the regions where terrorism and kidnappings of tourists occur.  This lowers the amount of tourists who travel to the region.

 

 

3. Identify different perspectives existing within an international country

 

Most people in the region are against the paramilitary organizations in the region.  They support the government and denounce the terrorist activities going on in their countries.

 

 

4. Understand tourism development and contemporary tourism issues from a global community perspective

 

This is an issue that affects us all.  It hurts the people living in the region who must live in these conditions.  It also impacts the tourists who want to travel to this area of the world but do not because of fear.  This in turn is bad for the region’s economy because these tourists would be spending money in their local environment.

Kidnappings in Columbia

Tourism in the beautiful South American Country of Columbia is overshadowed by the dark looming threat of terrorism.  Several guerilla paramilitary organizations, such as the FARC, ELN, and M-19, exist in the country and have been fighting against the government for decades.  One way that these groups finance their activities is by kidnapping tourists and government officials and holding them for ransom.  Drug cartels in the country are known to do use the same tactic, and common criminals have also started committing kidnappings as a way to get money.  The amount of kidnappings rose steadily from the 1970’s to 2000.  In the year 2000, authorities estimate that the amount of kidnapped people was over 3500.  Since then that number has declined significantly, but not disappeared.

Another tactic being used that is much harder to protect against is called express kidnappings, or millionaire tours.  In this type of kidnapping, the terrorist group demands a small ransom that can be paid easily and quickly.  Many of these crimes go on without ever being reported to the police.  Also, ATM abductions are common in larger cities, where a victim is kidnapped and lead to an ATM and forced to withdraw money from their account.

These criminal and terrorist organizations fund their operations by kidnapping tourists.  However, the bigger picture impact they have on the country is by the stigma they have created.  Tourists are scared to visit Columbia, which is perhaps one reason why the number of kidnappings has decreased by so much.  This lack of tourism has a negative economic effect on the country.  I encourage those reading this and those who are considering visiting Columbia to visit http://www.insightcrime.org/ right now and raise their awareness on this issue.