Like most casual travelers to Spain, Mike Iselin, a junior at the University of Notre Dame, didn't think much about politics when he signed on to a semester abroad in Salamanca. He thought that, as an American, he might be more welcome in Spain than France, but added, “I was interested in learning the language and the culture.”
But since Mar 11, when bombs aboard Madrid commuter trains killed 201 and injured 1,500, Iselin and other travelers to Spain — and to Europe — have had to think about how the attacks affect tourist safety, ease of travel and the attitudes of Europeans toward Americans. Iselin, 21, said in an e-mail from Salamanca that while the attacks “have had a huge effect on the outlook of the people and the topics of conversation,” he does not sense that most Spaniards feel any differently toward American tourists. His parents and siblings are still planning to meet him in London over spring break.
Should travelers feel differently about vacationing in Spain or Europe in light of the Mar 11 attacks? We've asked several experts the questions that may be on the minds of travelers contemplating a spring or summer trip.
Question: I have plans to travel to Spain, but should I go to a different country in Europe? Will I be safer in a country that isn't a strong U.S. ally?
Answer: Because it appears that Islamic terrorists, rather than Basque separatists, are responsible for the Mar 11 attacks, Spain is probably no more or less likely than any other Western European country to be the subject of another attack. Bruce McIndoe, CEO of iJet Travel Risk Management, an Annapolis company that provides travel-risk services for corporations and individuals, said Spain might even be a bit safer because it has already incurred an attack. McIndoe said risks of a terrorist strike may be slightly higher in countries that are allies of the United States, such as the United Kingdom and Italy, but added that those countries “have already substantially raised their security posture.”
What are Spain and other countries in Europe doing to increase security?
At press time, European Union foreign ministers were set to meet in an emergency session in Brussels to discuss security efforts. Since the Madrid attack, several countries, including France and Poland, have increased security at airports, train stations and other sites. Greece, which will host the Olympics in August, and Portugal, which will host the European soccer finals in June, have also heightened transportation security. The United Kingdom is taking a closer look at security along the Thames.
Travelers should be ready to face longer lines and closer scrutiny at airports and train stations throughout Europe this summer.
What about other American travelers? Are people canceling their trips?
That's difficult to say, because there is only anecdotal information at this point. Nora Brossard, a spokeswoman for the European Travel Commission (ETC), said in an e-mail, “It's too soon to call the situation. I can tell you that we have been anticipating a spring/summer rebound in travel from pent-up demand, and have seen nothing yet to negate that. We have had no reports of cancellations.” Mary Peters, owner of Friendly Travel in Alexandria and a member of the American Society of Travel Agents board of directors, said her agency has received no cancellations on trips to Spain since the attacks occurred. And according to the Spanish Hotel Owners Association and the Association of Travel Agents in Spain, there has been no dropoff in travelers' reservations.
Before the attacks, all indications pointed to more Americans traveling to Europe this year. Last year, there were 10,796,109 U.S. travelers to Europe, according to ETC statistics — a 2 percent increase over 2002. Passport applications were up 13 percent between October 2003 and February, according to the U.S. State Department, suggesting more international travel by Americans.
Since the attacks, however, there are indications that travel to at least Spain may dip for a time. David Cumpston, spokesman for SideStep.com, an Internet travel booking search engine, said that since March 11, airfare searches for Madrid have dropped by 15 percent. London and Paris continue to be its most popular international destinations. But Melissa Derry, a product manager for Expedia.com, said Spain has become the number one travel destination for travelers to Europe who book through Expedia, adding, “Every indication is that it will remain a hot destination.”
“I don't think this attack is going to stop the flow,” said Peters, the Virginia travel agent. “It's a bump in the road. Now, if there is another attack, who knows? But it's not the shut-off we had after 9/11.”
Am I safer traveling by plane or rental car than by train?
Fatality rates for plane and rail travel are similar, but don't take to the roads, since high car accident rates far outweigh the terrorist threat. The European Environment Agency, an agency of the European Union, estimates that 110 people are killed daily on European roads. As for rail fatalities, in 1997, the last year that EU-wide data are available, 117 people were killed in 12 European countries. In 2001, 151 people died within EU countries in plane crashes.
McIndoe warned that Americans may be at even more risk when driving in Europe because of an unfamiliarity with the roads, road signs in foreign languages and, in countries such as the United Kingdom, driving on the opposite side of the road.
Will the attacks in Madrid affect prices for air travel, hotels, etc.?
No major summer sales to Spain or any other European destination had been announced before the attacks, and none has been launched since. Aer Lingus is offering sale fares to Ireland. Expedia did start a summer package sale, but prices are not rock-bottom. Airfares from Washington to Spain are about $850 round trip, a typical rate for summer travel.
Other than a few less-than-dramatic sales, prices to destinations throughout Europe have remained high.
Asked about summer sales to Europe, Peters said, “They aren't there. In fact, we're paying surcharges on the dollar.” She added that airfare sales may not materialize because planes are being filled with European tourists traveling to the United States to take advantage of the weak dollar. Some observers, however, recommend watching the sales in the next few weeks for possible deals.
How can I protect my travel investment in case there are more attacks or I get cold feet?
Purchase travel insurance that has broad terrorism coverage. Since 9/11, most travel insurance companies have added enhanced terrorism coverage. But not all policies offer the same coverage. Peter Evans, executive vice president of Insuremytrip.com, which offers travel insurance from 14 companies, said, “It is critical for a consumer to examine the exact language in regards to terrorism coverage. It is not one size fits all.”
Most policies reimburse if the terrorist incident occurs in a foreign destination within 30 days prior to departure. But after that, all bets are off. Some companies, such as TravelSafe, also cover terrorist acts that occur in your departure city. Some, including Travel Insured and TravelSafe, require that you purchase your insurance within a certain time period after you make your first trip payment to receive terrorism coverage. Access America won't cover a destination that was the subject of a terrorist attack within the prior six months, but it does cover domestic destinations, while most companies cover only foreign spots. Travelex won't cover the intentional release of biological material.
Evans recommends comparing the terrorism coverage of each policy at www.insuremytrip.com. Another site, www.quotetravelinsurance.com, also compares terrorism coverage.
If you are booking with a tour group, get a written copy of its cancellation policies and read it. Some tour operators, such as Trafalgar Tours, offer more liberal cancellation refund policies if you buy the company's insurance plan. But it's almost unheard of to find a travel provider that offers 100 percent cash refunds without several months' notice if you have a change of heart.
I'm not afraid of terrorists, but I don't want to vacation in a country where I'll be made to feel uncomfortable. What kind of reception can I expect, especially in Spain, where they just elected an anti-American government?
Washington Post special correspondent Pamela Rolfe reported from Madrid last week that, while Spaniards are largely against the war in Iraq and the Bush administration, they tend to make a distinction between the American government and its foreign policy and the American people.
Visitors from the United States, Rolfe said, are embraced by Spaniards eager to debate politics and practice their English.
“In our experience, Spain is not at all an anti-American country,” Rick Chaney, vice provost of St. Louis University's Madrid campus, told Rolfe. "Many of those killed in the [March 11] attack were non-Spaniards. This was an attack against everyone."
What can I do to minimize my risks of being targeted?
Stay up to date with travel warnings and advisories. There is no U.S. State Department warning for Spain, although a public announcement on Spain issued after the attacks and set to expire June 11 says, " U.S. citizens in Spain are encouraged to remain alert and avoid large crowds when possible."
Other sources to examine include the U.K. Foreign & Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk), whose statement on Spain says, “There is a general threat in Spain to Western, including British, targets from terrorism. In light of the recent terrorist attacks, you should take sensible precautions and remain vigilant in public spaces.” Private resources include www.ijet.com, which publishes "Destination Intelligence Reports" on 160 countries for $14.95 each. Another iJet Web site, www.travelriskcenter.com, lists links to dozens of sites that deal with travel security, including government sites for many countries.
IJet's McIndoe says people can increase their odds of having a safe vacation by avoiding potential health hazards and petty crime risks. “Focus on things you have control over,” he said. "These are the things that impact travelers more than terrorism ever will.”
So put things in perspective for me. What are my odds of being killed or wounded in a terrorist attack?
There is a lot of evidence that proves your chance of dying at the hands of terrorists is very, very slight.
McIndoe, using data from the Statistical Assessment Service, a nonprofit group affiliated with the Center for Media & Public Affairs, has calculated these probabilities for U.S. citizens:
- Dying in an automobile accident: 1 in 18,800.
- Dying in a lightning strike: 1 in 4.2 million.
- Dying in a commercial airliner: 1 in 8.4 million.
- Dying in a terrorist attack: 1 in 9.2 million.
