In light of Friday's attack on a hotel in Tunisia, which left least 27 dead, there is renewed focus on how safe it is to visit the country.
Sousse, where the attack took place, is an important beach-resort region. It is now a crime scene, with police tape surrounding palm frond umbrellas and lounge chairs. As the tourists and their loved ones deal with this horrifying tragedy, officials face an uncomfortably familiar situation.
#Sousse #Tunisia The scene of the Attack at the imperial Marhabe hotel http://t.co/LJn2eKNn09 pic.twitter.com/biNn2iYKYW— Tunisia Live (@Tunisia_Live) June 26, 2015
In March, a terrorist attack on the Bardo National Museum in Tunisia's capital city of Tunis killed 23. After the attack, Tourism Minister Selma Elluni Rekik went to great lengths to assuage fears that the country was dangerous for travelers.
"There is no security problem in Tunisia," she said at the time. "Everything is under control."
Tunisian officials have focused efforts on boosting tourism for years, especially looking to attract seaside tourism along the country's Mediterranean coast. Geoff Porter, head of North Africa Risk Consulting, tweeted that tourism makes up almost 15% of Tunisia's gross domestic product.
#Tunisia economy is going to be destroyed by #Sousse attacks. Tourist receipts = 14.8% GDP in 2014. That will disappear.— Geoff D. Porter (@geoffdporter) June 26, 2015
British, Irish and German tourists were some of the people present during Friday's attack.
First the museum #BardoAttack, now hotels in #Sousse. These guys know exactly what they're doing: killing #Tunisia's tourism & economy.— Imad Mesdoua (@ImadMesdoua) June 26, 2015
"I thought it was fireworks and then I thought 'Oh my God,' it sounds like gunfire," an Irish woman caught in the attack told Irish broadcaster RTE. "I ran to the sea to my children and grabbed our things, and as I was running towards the hotel, the waiters and the security on the beach started shouting, 'Run, run, run.'"
While the attack's longterm effects are not yet known, it does not bode well for the future of the travel industry. Tunisia could be the latest in a series of countries that suffer lasting economic impact after violent conflict.
For instance, Crimea had a significant tourism sector before being annexed by Russia, but the conflict decimated travel bookings.
"Crimea is becoming more of a military base than a resort center," Elvira Kizilova, a hospitality and tourism expert in Crimea, told Mashable earlier this year. “I regret the possible decline of Crimean tourism. We've tried to do well."
Egypt, Kenya and Tanzania are more examples of countries that brought in revenue by serving foreign tourists.
Soon after Friday's attack in Sousse, travelers who had booked vacations with Thomas Cook in the UK took to Twitter and Facebook to request help getting home, and to find out what would happen with trips planned in the near future.
@ThomasCookUK in Sousse, we've been here two days but I'm not risking the life of my girlfriend and unborn child can you get us home?— ƒitℤ Symonds (@AshleySymonds92) June 26, 2015
@ThomasCookUK what is happening with flights to Tunisia, I am flying next Friday?— Lucy Gooch (@lucygooch1) June 26, 2015
@ThomasCookUK & other companies need to cancel all their holidays now until further notice to Tunisia. No one is going to enjoy holidays ATM— San (@sanbenno) June 26, 2015
@ThomasCookUK got Tunisia booked for week in sept.. Considering the terrorist attack is it possible to transfer to a different location?— Sophie (: (@sophie_wesson) June 26, 2015
@ThomasCookUK any news on what's happening with customers who are meant to be travelling to Tunisia within the next week?— Joe Rajkumar (@joeyRaj93) June 26, 2015