World travelers were left in shock this weekend when at least 188 people were killed when a bomb exploded in a popular nightclub in Bali, an Indonesian resort town. Concern is now rising that this incident may signal the beginning of additional terrorist attacks in other international tourist destinations.
"If I were in Bali and something like that occurred, I'd get the hell out of there on the next available plane," says Samuel Karson, Ph.D., a psychologist and travel specialist from the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. He advises anyone who feels uncomfortable with the idea of traveling to a certain area simply to not go.
Business travelers and others already away from home who cannot leave tourist areas immediately should focus on keeping their anxiety in check and proceed a little more cautiously. For the moment, it seems there is little else travelers can do.
For the rest of us, prevention may be the safest option for avoiding mixing terrorism with tourism. Erring on the side of caution is advisable, notes Karson. "The sensible tourist will postpone or not go," he says.
