The invasion of Iraq was a mistake and the tourism industry will pay an increasing price as a target for terrorist attacks, according to US intelligence advisor Dr Marvin Cetron.
Speaking to an audience of industry leaders at World Travel Market yesterday, Cetron said: “Terrorism events will be more common – 9/11 was no more than a taste of things to come and a lot worse things are going to happen than what occurred on the underground in London. The war on terror looks likely to go on for decades.”
He acknowledged his predictions were unlikely to be popular, but said: “Visit some countries and Osama bin Laden’s picture is in almost every home. Osama is the now second most common name in the Muslim world.
“He may even take over in Saudi Arabia. Freedom fighters, who we call terrorists, have a history of taking over governments.
“The Invasion of Iraq was not necessary and it’s not getting better. The terrorist situation will get worse.”
Cetron said the recent airport alert in the UK had followed publicity in the US released by authorities keen to take credit for a security success. But he insisted alerts were not generally hyped.
He defended the heavy restrictions imposed on hand luggage at UK airports up to yesterday, saying: “If something works, terrorists will do it again.
WTM managing director Fiona Jeffery described Cetron’s remarks to a Captains of Industry lunch as sombre.
Travel Trust Association director Todd Carpenter said: “We have to be aware of these things to safeguard people. But the point of terrorism is to deter people from doing normal things. People have to learn to exist with the new paradigm.”