Can terrorism make us feel safer? Risk perceptions and worries before and after the July 22nd attacks

•Risk perceptions & worries before and after the 22nd of July 2011 are investigated.•Perceived risk & worries are low among tourists to Norway.•Nordic tourists’ risk perceptions & worries are lower than those of other tourists’.•In retrospect tourists’ state that Norway has become safer since the attacks.•Risk perceptions & worries declined after the attacks. Findings are discussed.

The present investigation examines the effect of the July 22nd, 2011 Oslo/Utøya massacres on short- and long-term risk perceptions and worries among tourists. Convenience samples of tourists to Norway rated the perceived risk regarding Norway as a destination and regarding terrorism occurring in Norway, as well as their worries about terrorism during their current trip to Norway. Data were collected in 2004, 2010, 2011 (before and after July 22nd), and in 2012. Results show that risk perceptions and worries are relatively low. Perceived risk remained unchanged from 2004 until 2011, and did not change immediately after the attacks. However in 2012 perceived risk for Norway as a destination and worries about terrorism declined. Possible explanations for these unexpected findings are being discussed.