It is important to reiterate that tourism is a force for good, and that people will not stop traveling in the face of these isolated incidents around the world, says the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

The WTTC condemned today’s bomb attack in Istanbul that has caused the loss of many innocent lives, with David Scowsill, President & CEO of WTTC, issuing the following statement:

“It is with great sadness that we hear that Turkey has again fallen victim to a terrorist attack. Our hearts go out to all the families of those killed and the casualties of this atrocity.

“The world continues to face a continuous threat of terror, which in some occasions has directly targeted tourists in a country. Turkey is an important tourist destination, where Travel & Tourism contributes around 12% of the country’s total GDP.

“Governments must continue to ensure that appropriate security measures are in place, to facilitate travel for business and leisure purposes.”

eTN is a media partner for WTTC.