7 of 26

No

Write now Article Tools

Not only has Islamic fundamentalism and its saturation in the media most likely not played a significant role in reducing world tourism, but to assume irrevocable damage is, I believe, an underestimation of the resiliency of individuals. Yes, the media has long shaped our perceptions of the world outside our respective bubbles (whether they be American, European, or North African), but so have our personal experiences and those of people close to us. Word of mouth is a powerful advertisement.

In the spring of 2002 I went to Morocco for the first time by myself. I met many friendly, open Moroccans who helped me to discover during my brief stay some of the beauties of the country, both geographical and cultural. I also came across several American and European tourists who were having experiences heavily based on the expectations (or lack thereof) they had brought with them. A older British woman found Marrakesh filthy and the people pushy. A young man from New York basked in the club scene and grappled with culturally based gender differences. I enjoyed walking slowly and surviving on tea and bread. Each of us returned to our respective homes with stories to tell that would likely carry more weight for many close to us than the perpetuation of an image of Muslim extremism as pervasive.

Since that first journey, I have lived briefly in Morocco, traveled extensively in Europe and had the pleasure of a trip to Egypt. On all of these occasions I came into contact with tourists from all over the world. I have friends traveling this summer in sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. The state of the world, and the horrific events that accompany extremism of all types, cannot be denied, but humans continue to be a curious species. Some will undoubtedly restrict their travel to those places they deem "safe"; some may find themselves drawn to places that are the heart of conflict; others still will continue to venture as they always have, driven by intrigue.

While the consequences of Islamic extremism have been terrifying and their representation by the media has made them seem unavoidable and ever-present, they have not and will not damage world tourism irrevocably. In the United States, we have gun violence rates that are shocking and students who assault one another in schools. Yet, less than two weeks ago at Garden of the Gods in Colorado I had a pleasant conversation with a Muslim family visiting from India. Parents still send their students to study here. Young adults in their pre-university "gap year" still buy special passes for the Greyhound. In short, violence and uncertainty are unfortunate elements of the world in which we live but they do not squelch the curious nature of people and their desire to see and learn about those things exotic to them.

Learn more about this author, Stacey Mckenna.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Has Muslim extremism damaged world tourism irrevocably??
We want to hear your view. Write now!