Contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kimyla G. Stegall
Footwork Media
214.826.4992
Kimyla@FootworkMedia.com

Elevated Terror Alert Will Affect Travel

Dallas, TX (May 21, 2003) -- Tuesday the White House raised the terror threat level to orange or high risk, its second-highest level, after U.S. intelligence operatives intercepted communications that an al-Qaida attack may be 'imminent' inside the United States and against U.S. interests abroad.

Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security in the Department of Homeland Security, says the decision was reached because 'the United States intelligence community believes that terrorists continue to plan attacks against targets in the United States.'

Travel Alert

In addition, Washington has issued a series of increasingly grave terrorism alerts for people traveling through or living in the Middle East, North Africa, the Gulf, East Africa and Southeast Asia. The strongest warnings were for Kenya, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.

Travel Expert John Krieger, owner of Admiral of the Fleet Cruise and Tour Centers says the raised status will inevitably affect the travel industry. 'The problem with the issue of terrorism, whether it’s real or perceived, people get scared. When people scared they tend to stay close to home and the family,' he said.

Airport, train and cruise ship security will be tighter and Mr. Krieger says we are likely to see travel slow down. 'On the upside with the TSA having nearly a year of experience I think the disruptions will be minimal,' he said.

Life Must Go On

His advise to travelers 'While it never hurts to be vigilant, you have to keep things in perspective.' The unfortunate thing is that most of the world outside of the United States lives in a world that is always at a level orange, it has for years and life goes. Mr. Krieger says 'The important thing is that people go on and live their lives get out, travel and do the things they would ordinarily do as the rest of the world does.'

Travel expert, John Krieger is the owner of Admiral of The Fleet Cruise and Tour Center, a world-class provider of leisure travel services based in Dallas, Texas.

###

For more information or to book an interview with Travel Expert John Krieger contact Footwork Media Productions at 214.826.4992 or 469.831.6001.