Psychographic variables, tourist behaviour and vandalism in the South-East Asian tourism sector

Abstract

This study examines multi-stakeholders’ perceptions of vandalism at tourist attractions in two Asian cities: Bangkok and Singapore. It provides an opportunity to explore the differences and similarities in stakeholder attitudes towards attraction management and reveals desired levels of participation of community in managing vandalism in tourism. This mixed method research employs community survey and interviews of site managers and government officials as its main data collection approach. It also offers an innovative approach to data analysis using the severity and optimist/pessimist psychographic variables coupled with quantitative analytical techniques. The results reveal complex relationship between psychographic profiles, future and current time dimensions, and location. In conclusion, the study offers several recommendations to city managers and policymakers on methods of vandalism control. It also highlights the importance of cultural context and its influence on community involvement. While this study is limited to tourism attractions, it provides a solid foundation for future research, one that can extend into urban planning and public policy design.

Tourism research and tackling vandalism: Shifting the approach

“…Vandalism in tourism is a complex phenomenon which requires systematic thinking and evaluation (Bhati and Agarwal, 2021). Vandalism, in its most general definition, is associated with destructive or disruptive behaviours (Bhati, 2021; Sokolov et al, 2017). Van Vliet (1992) defines vandalism as “wilful damage to or destruction of property owned by others” (p. 32).…”