Every year, this time of year, since 2001, thoughts in my longtime hometown of New York turn again to the tragedy of Sept. 11, when terrorists brought down the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Thousands were killed and lives and livelihoods were sent reeling. Here in Asia, the travel and tourism industry was not spared, as Japanese and other nationalities joined Europeans and Americans in canceling business and leisure trips.
Economies and businesses slowly recovered. Then, in October 2002 and October 2005, terrorist bombings devastated parts of the Indonesian resort island of Bali, killing hundreds of tourists and residents. Tourism receipts again spiraled downward.
Now, fears have been raised again about travel to Southeast Asia. Where once it might have been Indonesia, or the Philippines given that nation's long-standing struggles with separatists on the island of Mindanao, this time it was Thailand.