Tourist Worries after Terrorist Attacks: Report from a Field Experiment

The current study reports the results of a field experiment measuring tourist worries assessed by the Tourist Worry Scale (TWS) before and after the terror bombings in London during the summer of 2005. As part of a larger study on tourist experiences, tourists on vacation to Mallorca, Spain, were asked to fill in a questionnaire prior to the bombings. A follow up study was administered about seven weeks after the terror attacks. The results showed sum scores on the TWS to remain stable over the test period, but ratings regarding worry about terrorism and acts of war significantly increased at the post terror measurement. The results support both the stability and sensitivity of the TWS in a situation of international turmoil.