Armed conflict and political unrest are among the most devastating deterrents of tourism, potentially undoing years of tourism growth and destination marketing virtually overnight. As the war in Iran and its effect on tourism across the region shows, the deterring effect of war and conflict tends to spread far beyond the areas directly affected, as safety concerns travel quickly.
According to findings from Statista Consumer Insights, safety plays a prominent role in travel planning: In countries like South Africa and Brazil, more than 50 percent of respondents said they check how safe a destination is before booking a trip. Even in countries further down the list, like the United States where safety concerns are comparatively low, three in ten respondents consider the safety situation at their destination when planning a trip.
