1.   Residents fear that it marks a widening in the scope of attacks on foreign visitors that have devastated tourism, a leading source of hard currency.

2.   The financial crisis in Argentina has devastated tourism in this region.

3.   The September terrorist attacks on New York and Washington have devastated tourism, a cornerstone of the economy.

4.   Years of brutal military dictatorship, as well as negative publicity during the early years of the AIDS epidemic, devastated tourism here.

5.   Hoteliers and tour operators fear an escalation in violence in Colombo could devastate tourism this year.