Coming soon after the atrocity in Tunisia, Monday’s bomb attack in Bangkok is another blow, not just for the people of Thailand, but for a travel industry contending with concerns about safety overseas.
The relatively short period of time between the two tragedies will inevitably mean parallels will be drawn, particularly with Thai authorities saying the tourism sector had been specifically targeted.
However, the location of the attack means a more accurate comparison could be with incidents such as the London or Boston bombings.
Although Thailand’s appeal is its wealth of unspoilt and rustic landscapes, Bangkok is far from the chaotic and disorganised city it is sometimes portrayed to be.
Yes, it retains the vibrancy of a developing city, but it has grown into a metropolis that prides itself on its high-end hotels and modern infrastructure.
At the time of going to press, the motive for the attack remained unclear, but it is fair to assume that disruption to the essential tourist trade was at least one of the desired effects.
It can feel like those of us within and serving the industry are beginning to sound like stuck records, with this year characterised by customers looking for peace of mind along with confirmation of their bookings.
But it is worth repeating that no major city can claim to be safe from this sort of attack.
Like London, Madrid, New York and Boston before it, the Thai capital is more than capable of overcoming this act of terror and its people will continue to offer visitors the warm welcome for which they are renowned.