The tourism industry needs to meet the security industry half way

The glitz and glamour of last week's World Tourism Forum in Istanbul masked industry pundits' angst over the declining security confidence among would-be travelers. Given the global terror threat, reversing the industry's fortunes won't be easy for industry or governments.

In Turkey's case, safeguarding tourism revenues will require much more detailed policy measures than subsidized jet fuel for airline carriers. Complex policy measures involving public private sector collaboration are what's required.

If the global tourism industry is going to flourish in these uncertain times, it must understand - and engage with - current and emerging security trends. This approach starts with developing a better understanding of the threats, customer fears and government policy measures and includes employing an entrepreneurial flair for making the best out of the new opportunities that may emerge.

Today's terrorism and organized crime threats exceed the high water mark set in the early 2000s. Globally, there are more terrorist attacks now than in 2001. These attacks are undertaken by a wider array of groups and individuals, driven by an equally diverse assortment of motivations.

The security problem isn't just about terrorism, it's equally related to organized crime. Organized crime groups have become more resilient to traditional police operations. The line between terrorism and crime is becoming increasingly blurred - especially in cases such as the kidnapping of tourists for ransom.

With this kind of threat environment, there should be little surprise that countries such as America, the United Kingdom and Australia are warning their citizens against traveling while also strengthening their own borders.

Many countries...