Given the recent foiled terrorist plot at London Heathrow, airports across the European Continent are tightening security. Estonia, however, is tryinig not to.
Much of the boom taking place in Eastern Europe these days has been fueled by the proliferation of cheap flights originating from western European capitals like London and Dublin. Tourists and investors alike are streaming into these countries and yet the friction caused by terrorism fears could grind tourism to a screeching halt.
According to an August 22nd article from the Baltic Times, Estonia's Interior Minister Kalle Laanet says the "emphasis on stopping terrorist attacks should lie in intelligence gathering." He explained futher that "security checks must be stepped up in accordance with risk evaluation. There should not be permanent safeguards in place."
The UK's Home Secretary John Reid, ont the other hand, has said Europe faces a "persistent and very real" threat from terrorism and that stricter airport security measures should be introduced by all EU members.
If small countries like Estonia can remain off terrorist radar and thus avoid a mandatory ramp up in airport security, these countries may attract more tourists than they do currently not only because of easier travel, but also because of perceived safety.
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