US terror warning could hurt European economy

MADRID A rare advisory for U.S. travelers to beware of potentialterrorist threats in Europe drew American shrugs Sunday from Paristo Rome, but tourism officials worried that it could deter would-bevisitors from moving ahead with plans to cross the Atlantic. Thetravel alert is a step below a formal warning not to visit Europe,but some experts said it could still hurt a fragile European economyalready hit hard by the debt crisis. I think if someone was lookingfor an excuse not to travel, then this is just the ticket, saidGeorge Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com. However, I dont thinkmost people will alter their plans unless the threat is veryspecific. The State Department alert advised the hundreds ofthousands of U.S. citizens living or traveling in Europe to takemore precautions about their personal security. Security officialssay terrorists may be plotting attacks in Europe with assaultweapons on public places, similar to the deadly 2008 shooting spreein Mumbai, India. Without a specific threat, however, Americanvisitors were not letting the alert disrupt their travels. We livein New York. So in New York we think about these things all thetime, said Richard Mintzer, a 55-year-old American visiting Italywith his wife. I wouldnt say we are particularly worried in Rome, nomore than we would be at home, or anywhere in the Western world. AtParis spring-summer 2011 ready-to-wear fashion shows, W magazinefashion market director Karla Martinez said she gets worried forfive minutes, but then I forget about it and get back to the jobthat Im here to do. Its a little scary when youre staying in a bighotel with lots of tourists, because we hear that could be a target,but I try not to get too worked up about it, she said. At the end ofthe day all you can do is keep your eyes and ears open and try notto be naive. The nonprofit group IES Abroad sent e-mails Sundaywarning about 1,500 college students in its European study abroadprograms to avoid crowded tourist spots and hangouts typicallyfrequented by Americans. The message also sent to the studentsparents also told students to leave public places if they see signsof trouble. We say, Be alert, cautious and aware of yoursurroundings, IES executive vice president Bill Hoye said. Itmeans, Dont be totally plugged into your iPod. Hours after the e-mails were sent by the Chicago-based group, it had no sign of anystudents who wanted to drop out of the programs. The impact ontravel could deepen if the threat leads to new, tighter securitymeasures, said Henry Harteveldt, a travel analyst for ForresterResearch. But the U.S.-based Air Transport Association, a tradegroup for the airline industry, said it expects business as usual.United, Continental and Delta said they were operating as usual onSunday without any cancellations or delays related to the terroralert. The airlines said customers will be charged the usual penaltyif they want to change itineraries. Kevin Mitchell, chairman of theBusiness Travel Coalition, said business travelers will likely keeptheir plans and hold onto nonrefundable tickets as long as thewarning remains fairly general. The biggest impact will be thosepeople who right now havent yet made their plans, Mitchell said.Theyre the ones who will forestall their decision until thesituation is a little bit more clear. The travel alert noted inparticular the potential for terrorists to attack publictransportation systems and other tourist infrastructure. Currentinformation suggests that al-Qaida and affiliated organizationscontinue to plan terrorist attacks, it said. European governmentshave taken action to guard against a terrorist attack and some havespoken publicly about the heightened threat conditions. U.S. Sen.Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., stressed to reporters after talking toState Department and Justice Department officials that the alertmeans be careful when you go, but they are not advising you not togo. U.S. and European security experts have been concerned for daysabout a terror attack similar to the one in Mumbai, which left 166people dead and targeted two luxury hotels, a Jewish center, apopular restaurant and a crowded train station. Britains ForeignOffice on Sunday began warning British travelers to France andGermany that the threat of terrorism in those countries is high.Britains Home Secretary Theresa May said the threat of terrorism inthe U.K. remains unchanged at severe, meaning an attack is highlylikely. Germanys Interior Ministry said it saw no need to change itsassessment of risks to the country and there were still no concreteindications of imminent attacks there. Frances interior ministersaid the threat of a terrorist attack is real but that the countryis not raising its alert level.