Are tourists being targeted? Panel data analysis of terror attacks against tourist targets

The study examines whether tourists are targets of terror attacks. Three hypotheses are tested, regarding the annual share of terror attacks against clear and vague tourist targets with foreigners as victims, and the likelihood that tourist targets will be attacked in relation to the number of international tourist arrivals and the annual amount of international tourism receipts. The findings do not show that tourists are being targeted, and the statistical relationship between tourist arrivals and receipts is not robust at best. The study offers some theoretical and practical conclusions for tourism and terrorism studies.