On November 13, 2015, yet another act of terrorism took innocent lives – this time through a coordinated attack in Paris. This tragedy follows attacks in Boston (April 2013), Mumbai (November 2008), London (July 2005), Madrid (March 2004), Bali (October 2002), not to mention New York (September 2001) and many other cities over the past two decades. The sad fact is that we live in an age that militant factions attempt to incite fear and gain strength through intimidation and violence. The good news is that we can choose not to be intimidated and continue to travel the world, meet people and appreciate their different cultures. We’ve outlined some of the pros and cons of travel in today’s world to help you make travel decisions.

The Pros and Cons of Travel

Understanding the Risks

Con: Understandably, it’s easy to become unnerved by the atrocious acts that have been committed. You might be in the initial stages of considering a trip, or already have tickets in hand for departure next week, and be wondering “Should I go?” What are the chances of being involved in a future incident?

Pro: Put the risk in perspective. The chances of being killed by a terror attack is approximately 1 in 20 million. You are nearly twice as likely to become a U.S. president (1:10 million), 13 times as likely to become a movie star (1:1.5 million), and 148 times as likely to be killed by lightening (1:134,906).

Safety Precautions for Travel

Con: The U.S. State Department provides alerts and warnings for places where there is a certain probability of unrest, but terrorism acts occur unpredictably. It’s difficult to define if some destinations are risky or not.

Pro: Utilize the travel safety practices that you can control. Enroll in the free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Make sure you have the contact information for the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you are going. Maintain a high level of vigilance while traveling and follow the U.S. State Department’s terrorism precautions.

Fear as a Deterrent

Con: Fear. Anxiety. Trepidation. Creating terror is the crux of “terror”ism. Violent tactics are intended to instill fear and immobilize the victims. If fear keeps you from traveling, the terrorism has succeeded.

Pro: If you overcome the fear – using reasonable safety precautions, of course – there is a big, colorful, fascinatingly diverse world out there to see and experience! You’ll come to understand people who have a completely different lifestyle than yours, savor exotic flavors that you’ve never tasted before, and see astounding man-made and natural wonders.

Terrorists seek to set boundaries and have the world conform to their own narrow views, but if that ever came to pass, civilization would lose all the diversity that makes it so tantalizing. By asserting our freedom to travel and explore, we are uniting as global citizens to make the statement that we value our differences and will not succumb to terrorist threats. Ultimately everyone must make their own determination, but at Covington Travel, we believe boundaries divide; travel unites. As Eugene Fodor, founder of Fodor’s Travel once said, “It’s hard to hate people whose country you’ve visited.”