Australian travellers desert European terror hotspots

Margaret Barca
Aug 26, 2017, updated Nov 26, 2020

Switzerland is experiencing a surge in Australian travellers as they shun more popular European destinations amid terror threats. Photo: Getty

Australians are rethinking their plans following deadly terror attacks in high-profile destinations such as Barcelona, Paris, London, Nice and Berlin.

Forty-five per cent of Australian jetsetters fear terrorist attacks on flights, according to a new survey, and they’re not just worried about attacks on planes.

The fact that people from 34 different countries were either killed or injured in the most recent Islamist terror attack on La Rambla in Barcelona is a reminder that tourists at iconic sites and in sprawling crowds are potentially even more vulnerable than locals.

In France alone since 2015, more than 200 people have been killed and hundreds injured in terrorist attacks attributed to Islamic State (ISIS).

While the number of Aussies jetting off overseas globally rose by 4 per cent last year and there was a 3 per cent increase in those going to Europe, travellers are choosing what they consider less dangerous destinations.

The number of Australians visiting France dropped by 7 per cent in the twelve months to July 2017.

Visitors to Germany dropped 5 per cent and there was a 1 per cent dip in visitors to the UK.

At the same time, the number of Australians heading to Switzerland increased by 27 per cent, while rises of 17 per cent were recorded in Australian visitors to both Sweden and Greece.

Before the attack in Barcelona, visitor numbers to Spain to July 2017 were up by 9 per cent.

Following the devastating 2004 terrorist train bombings in Madrid, where 192 people were killed, Spain had avoided major attacks until this month’s La Rambla rampage.

The nationwide survey of 2005 Australians, commissioned by comparison site finder.com.au, also revealed that in spite of increased aviation security, more than half of the women (53 per cent) and almost a third of men (31 per cent) surveyed said their fear of flying stems from terrorism.

“We’re seeing evidence that travellers are avoiding destinations where they see a pattern of terrorism happening,” Bessie Hassan, insurance expert at finder.com.au, told The New Daily.

Is it safe to go?

The Australian government website SmartTraveller updates advice regularly.

For France, the advice is to “exercise a high degree of caution due to the threat of terrorist attack. Be vigilant… We continue to receive information that terrorists may be planning further attacks in France. An attack could occur at any time.”

For Spain the site warns of “heightened security measures” in public places and tourist sites, and for Germany it notes “a high threat of terrorist attack”.

Travellers should register with SmartTraveller and also compare travel insurance policies before they go in case of a terrorist incident.

As Ms Hassan says, “Not all policies cover cancellations as a result of terrorist attacks and some may provide only limited cover, so make sure to read the fine print.”

Timeline of terror in Europe

August 17, 2017
La Rambla, Barcelona

13 killed and 130 injured when a van rammed into pedestrians on the famed La Rambla boulevard.

August 17, 2017
Cambrils, Spain

One dead, 6 injured when a car rammed into a crowd then terrorists jump out armed with knives. Five terrorists were shot at the time.

June 3, 2017
London Bridge & Borough Market, London, UK

Eight killed and dozens injured. Three knifemen were shot dead. Van drove into people at Borough Market, Central London. Attackers with knives strapped to their hands randomly stab people.