The violence uptick is tragic, but as many here have said, quite disconnected from anywhere or anything 99% of tourists would experience.
That said, what matters here is PERCEPTION.
No matter how overplayed the violence is, or how isolated many of these incidents are, suburban and rural visitors hear reports and panic. I'm sure many of you city-dwellers have heard from friends or family who live elsewhere, as I have, about how worried they are, and you have to reassure them that no, the city is not a warzone. (And then they only half believe your report, because of whatever they saw on the news....)
However unfair or racist or stubborn, or whatever else, this is, it is a very real effect, and likely will drive down tourism. |
