Disasters at tourism destinations often receive extensive reporting in the news media, particularly when one or more of their own nationals are affected. From terrorism to natural disasters, the stories of tourists and, more recently, their local hosts, are fodder for Western news services. As major tourism generating regions, the effect of such reports on travelers from Western societies has a significant impact on tourism in many destinations. While the scope of the influence of the media on tourism visitation is a contested issue, it is generally accepted that the so-called “news” media has significant influence, not only on individual visitors but also on the vexed issue of government sponsored travel warnings.