A perspective on travel warnings

While it is important to keep abreast of safety warnings issued by the U.S. State Department (“Bali bombing proves the need to understand safety warnings,” Travel Insider, Oct. 27), the warnings need to be weighed against other factors.

According to many travel experts and trusted periodicals, Bali was considered the safest place in Indonesia and one of the safest places in Southeast Asia. Even with the travel advisory for Indonesia, I was surprised that a terrorist attack occurred in Bali, because the idea of an attack there seemed as remote a concept as an attack in Maui.

Bali is close to many dangerous areas in Indonesia, and you suggest that was another reason to defer travel to Bali. That is like telling Americans to defer travel to Connecticut or New Jersey because of their proximity to Manhattan.

Many warnings are issued to encourage Americans to remain vigilant everywhere, including in the U.S. If another terrorist attack were to occur in the U.S., it would not be fair to imply that the victims were at fault for having failed to remain vigilant.

Brian Dresher

Chatsworth