Perceptions of tourists at risky destinations. A model of psychological influence factors

Abstract

If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/ authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -This paper aims to present a model including essential constructs for the measurement of travellers' characteristics in a perceived unsafe destination. This model functions as the basis for three empirical case studies testing the relevance and explanatory power of stable factors regarded as crises-resistant (e.g. values and holiday preferences) and dependent aspects regarded as crises-sensitive (attitudes, perceptions and holiday activities).Design/methodology/approach -In total, 930 tourists completed a standardized questionnaire in three regions confronted with or threatened by terrorist attacks as a specific form of tourist crisis (Bali, Indonesia; Sinai, Egypt and Catalonia, Spain). Owing to the coincidence that during fieldwork the second attack on Bali happened it was possible to compare travellers before and after the attack and to test the conception of crises-stable and crises-sensitive factors ( RQ1). Linear multiple regressions were run to detect significant influence factors on sensation seeking and holiday needs (based on the whole sample) ( RQ2) and on risk perceptions and intercultural contact efforts (analysed separately for every destination) ( RQ3).Findings -The results in Bali predominantly justify the model of crises-stable and crises-resistant indicators. Considering influences on the stable level values referring to openness for change (self direction, hedonism and stimulation) and to self transcendence (universalism, benevolence) exert the highest influence on travel needs. The weak influences of sensation seeking on security feelings during a holiday lead to the conclusion that these two constructs have to be clearly differed. The perception of a convenient, relaxing atmosphere, a low awareness of risks on holidays and a commitment towards tourism-related problems seem to be highly relevant for open contacts with the host society.Originality/value -The empirical results of the study in Bali are of particular importance because there is still little scientific knowledge about the immediate psychological reactions of tourists to crises states in destinations. Highly relevant explanatory factors are reported in this study due to high effect sizes...

Tourism at Risk: A Review of Risk and Perceived Risk in Tourism

“…A substantial number of past studies adopted Hofstede's (2001) five cultural dimensions to examine the causal linkages between risk attitudes and social norms in different countries (George, 2010;Korstanje, 2009;Kozak et al, 2007;Quintal et al, 2010;Reisinger & Mavondo, 2005;Seabra, Dolnicar, Abrantes, & Kastenholz, 2013). Socio-demographic factor is another popular dimension in examining the underlying factors of tourists' risk perception (Aschauer, 2010;Chang, 2010;Sönmez & Graefe, 1998b;Williams & Baláž, 2013). It is reasonable to postulate that even from the same nation or age group, tourists are heterogeneous in terms of their risk perception (Seabra et al, 2013).…”

“…Thus, it is essential to examine risk perception at the micro level, which is at the individual level. Back in the 1970s, Cohen's (1972) classic work, Toward a Sociology of International Tourism, proposed a multidisciplinary model that links sociology to the realm of psychology where it categorizes tourists into four distinctive roles based on the individual's preference of novelty or familiarity: organized mass tourist, independent mass tourist, drifter, and explorer (Aschauer, 2010;Lepp & Gibson, 2003;Reisinger & Mavondo, 2005;Seabra et al, 2013;Williams & Baláž, 2013). Lepp and Gibson (2003) were the first to systematically investigate the influence of tourist role and their preference for novelty or familiarity on risk perception.…”

The effect of tourists’ perceptions of a tourism product on memorable travel experience: Implications for destination branding

“…Various studies in tourism have used perceptions of visitors to evaluate destination performance (Pearce, 1982;Brown, 2003;Beerli, & Martı´n, 2004;Aschauer, 2010) and visitor behaviour (Stuart, Barnes, Mattsson & SØrensen, 2014). Understanding tourists' perceptions (TPs) provides a tool for tourism destinations to develop ways to nurture, develop and present their core tourism products and services (Engl, 2011, Herstein, Jaffe, & Berger, 2014.…”

The Elementary Forms of Risk: The Mobility Immobilized

“…It not only implies a bad advertising in tourist products, but also confers a precautionary message for public demand that decline the attractiveness of affected destination (Fuchs & Reichel, 2010;Goldblat & Hu, 2005;Henderson 2008;Aschauer, 2010). However, things are not as easier as the specialized literature suggests.…”