International Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Systems

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Travel Risks Vs Tourist Decision Making:A Tourist Perspective


Affiliations
1 Taylor’s University, School of Hospitality, Tourism & Culinary Arts, Selangor, Malaysia
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


This paper sheds light on tourist's emotional experiences on holiday, which are central to increase our understanding of tourist behaviour. Tourists usually travel to cities with good impression. Choosing a travel destination is definitely a complicated decision-making process for tourists. For safety concerns, some tourists intentionally visit somewhere familiar and nearby, but avoid nations or areas with high crime rates or political instability. A wide range of perceptions governs the desirability and appeal of a destination to the potential traveler. The importance of investigating perceptions of travel risks has been recognized with in a number of different disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, criminology and marketing. It is often assumed that perceptions of safety and security may influence individuals' destination choice. Consumers use information gathered from various sources like word of mouth, different forms of media, guidebooks, talking to friends and relatives, to form a perception of a particular destination. This is a quantitative study conducted in Malaysia. The respondents who participated in this research were the nationals of Malaysia, India, China, Indonesia, Australia, and France, etc. The study found that most holidaymakers perceive earthquake, tsunami, SARS, terrorist activities, swine flu as risk. The results of the study suggest that safety, peace and stability are major concerns for tourists' while choosing their travel destination.

Keywords

Destination, Safety, Risks, Decision Making, Perception.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Amara, D. (2012). Tourists’ risk aversion and willingness to take risks: the case of tourists visiting Egypt after 25th January revolution. 6th World Conference for Graduate Research in Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure.22. Fethiye: Routledge.

  • Bartlett, J. (2005). The impact of the media on false public perception of tornado safety precautions. B.Sc. Thesis, Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University.

  • Bentley, T. A., Page, S. J., Meyer, D., Chalmers, D., & Laird, I. (2001). How safe is adventure tourism in New Zealand? An exploratory analysis. Applied Ergonomics, 32(4), 327-338.

  • Bonn, M. A., Joseph, S. M., & Dai, M. (2005). International versus domestic visitors: an examination of destination image perceptions. Journal of Travel Research, 43, 294-301.

  • Carlsen, J. C., & Hughes, M. (2007). Tourism market recovery in the Maldives after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 23(2/3/4), 139-149.

  • Cetron, M. J. (2004). Hospitality in the age of terror. Retrieved February 23, 2013, from www.hospitalitynet.org/file/152001642.pdf.

  • Cetron, M. J. (2006). How to protect your hotel in an era of terrorism. Retrieved January from http://www.wiredhotelier.com/news/4028554.html.

  • Chan, A. K., & Chan , V. M. (2012). Public perception of crime and attitudes toward police: Examining the Effects of Media News. Discovery–SS Student E-Journal, 1, 215-237.

  • Chiu, S. P. (2008). Tourism and crime. Police Science Bimonthly, 39(1), 67-81.

  • Chiu, S. P. (2010). Study on the shopping fraud in package tour. Police Science Bimonthly, 40(3), 53-76.

  • Chiu, S. P., & Lin, S. Y. (2010). A study on myth about tourism crime victim:An example of Taiwan tourists. Police Science Bimonthly, 40(4), 201-218.

  • Churchill, A. G. (1995). Marketing Research: Methodological Foundations (6th ed.). New York: Dryden Press.

  • Cook, R. L., & McCleary, K. W. (1983). Redefining vacation distances in consumer minds. Jouranl of Travel Research, 22(2), 31-34.

  • Crompton, J. L. (1977). A systems model of the Tourist’s Destination Selection Decision Process with particular reference to the role of image and percieved constraints. Ph.D. Dissertation. Texas: Texas A&M University, College Station.

  • Crompton, J. L. (1992). Structure of Vacation Destination Choice Sets. Annals of Tourism Research, 19, 420-434.

  • Floyd, M. F., & Pennigton-Gray, L. (2004). Profiling risk perceptions of tourists. Annals of Tourism Research, 31(4), 1051-1054.

  • Frey, B. S., Luechinger, S., & Stutzer, A. (2007). Calculating Tragedy: Assessing the Costs of Terrorism. Journal of Economic Surveys, 21(1), 1-24.

  • Garg, A. (2010). Terrorism - A threat to endurance of Tourism and Hospitality Industry in South Asian Region. 9th Asia Pacific Forum for Graduate Students’ Research in Tourism. Beppu: Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University.

  • Garg, A. (2013). A study of tourist perception towards travel risk factors in tourist decision making. Asian Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research, 7(1), 47-57.

  • Gartner, W. C. (1994). Image formation process. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 2, 191-215.

  • Goeldner, C., Ritchie, B., & McIntosh, R. (2006). Tourism Principles, Practices & Philosophies. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

  • Green, C. G., Bartholomew, P., & Murrmann, S. (2003). New York restaurant industry: Strategic responses to September 11, 2001. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 15(2/3), 63-79.

  • Hall, C. M., Timothy, D. J., & Duval, D. J. (2003). Safety & Security in Tourism: Relationships, Management and Marketing. New York: Haworth Hospitality Press.

  • Henderson, J. C. (2007). Tourism Crisis: Causes, Consequences and Management. USA: Butterworth-Heinemann.

  • Huan, T.-C., Tsai, C.-F., & Shelby, L. B. (2006). Impacts of no-escape natural disaster on tourism: A case study in Taiwan. Advances in Hospitality and Leisure, 2, 91-106.

  • Kotler, P. R., Bowen, J. T., & Makens, J. (2013). Marketing for Hospitality and Tourism (6th ed.). Prentice Hall.

  • Lepp, A., & Gibson, H. (2008). Sensation seeking and tourism: Tourist role, perception of risk and destination choice. Tourism Management, 29(4), 740-750.

  • Mangold, W., & Faulds, D. (2009). Social media: The new hybrid element of the promotion mix. Business Horizons, 52(4), 357-365.

  • Mansfeld, Y. (1992). From motivation to actual travel. Annals of Tourism Research, 19, 399-419.

  • Maser, B., & Weiermair, K. (1998). Travel decision-making: from the vantage point of perceived risk and information preferences. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 7(4), 107-121.

  • Mawby, R. I. (2000). Tourists’ perceptions of security: the risk-fear paradox. Tourism Economics, 6(2), 109-121.

  • Mazursky, D. (1989). Past experience and future tourism decisions. Annals of Tourism Research, 16, 333-344.

  • Morris, M. W., & Peng, K. (1994). Cultre and cause: American and Chninese attributions for social and physical events. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 67, 949-971.

  • Moutinho, L. (1987). Consumer behavior in tourism. European Journal of Marketing, 21(10), 5-44.

  • Mura, P. (2010). ‘Scary...but i like it!’ Young tourists’ perceptions of fear on holiday. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change, 8(1-2), 30-49.

  • Murphy, L., Mascardo, G., & Benckendorff, P. (2007). Exploring word‐of‐mouth influences on travel decisions: friends and relatives vs. other travellers. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 31(5), 517-527.

  • Murthy, E. K. (2008). Introduction to Tourism and Hospitality ethics. India: ABD Publishers.

  • Oluwole, I., & Olufemi, A. (2011). Perceptions as influencer of consumer choice behaviour: The Case of Tourism in Nigeria. Journal of Marketing Development and Competitiveness, 5(7).

  • Paletz, D. L., Owen, D., & Cook, T. E. (2011). American Government and Politics in the Information Age. Flat World Knowledge.

  • Reisinger, Y., & Mavondo, F. (2006). Cultural differences in travel risk perception. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 20(1), 13-31.

  • Reisinger, Y., & Turner, L. W. (2002). The determination of shopping satisfaction of Japanese tourists visiting hawaii and gold coast compared. Journal of Travel esearch, 41(2), 167-175.

  • Richter, L. K. (1983). Tourism politics and political science. A case of not so benign neglect. Annals of Tourism Research, 10, 313-335.

  • Roehl, W. S., & Fesenmaier, D. R. (1992). Risk perceptions and pleasure travel: An exploratory analysis. Journal of Travel Research, 30(4), 17-26.

  • Saunders, B., & Goddard, C. (2002). The role of mass media in facilitating community education and child abuse prevention strategies. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

  • Segall, M. H., Campbell, D. T., & Herskovitz, M. J. (1966). The influence of culture on visual perception. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill.

  • Sonmez, S. F., & Graefe, A. R. (1998b). International vacation decision and terrorism risk. Annals of Tourism Research, 25(1), 122-124.

  • Sonmez, S. F., & Graefe, A. R. (1998d). Determining future travel behaviour from past travel experience and perceptions of risk and safety. Journal of Travel Research, 37(2), 171-177.

  • Sonmez, S., & Graefe, A. (1998c). Influence of terrorism risk on foreign tourism decisions. Annals of Tourism Research, 25(1), 112-144.

  • Sonmez, S., Apostopoulos, Y., & Tarlow, P. (1999). Tourism in Crisis: Managing effects on Terrorism. Journal of Travel Research, 38(1), 13-18.

  • Spencer, J., Lewis , K. X., Sesay, M. M., Turay, P., Douglas, S., & Nwogu, V. (2012). The Road to Justice. A Handbook for the Media on Reporting Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Cases in Sierra Leone. Freetown, Sierra Leone: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

  • Steers, R. M., Sanchez-Runde, C. J., & Nardon, L. (2010). Management Across Cultures:Challenges and Strategies. Cambridge University Press.

  • Suvantola, J. (2002). Tourist’s Experience of Place. England: Ashgate Publishing.

  • Um, S., & Crompton, J. L. (1992). The Roles of Perceived Inhibitors and Facilitators in Pleasure Travel Destination Decisions. Journal of Travel Research, 30(3), 18-25.

  • van Raaij, W. F., & Francken, D. A. (1984). Vacation decisions, activities and satisfactions. Annals of Tourism Research, 11, 101-112.

  • Weber, E. U., & Hsee, C. (1998). Cross-Cultural Differecnes in Risk Perception, but Cross-Cultural Similarities in Attitudes towards Percieved Risks. Management Science, 44(9), 1205-1217.

  • Weber, E. U., & Hsee, C. K. (1999). Models and Mosaics: Investigating cross-cultural differences in risk perception and risk preference. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 6(4), 611-617.

  • Weiermair, K. (2000). Tourists’ perceptions towards and satisfaction with service quality in the cross-cultural service encounter: implications for hospitality and tourism management. Managing Service Quality, 10(6), 397-409.

  • Wright, G. N., & Phillips, L. D. (1980). Cultual variation in probabilistic thinking: Alternative ways of dealing with uncertainty. International Journal of Psychology, 15, 239-257.

  • Zheng, X. (2003). Travel Safety. Beijing, China: China Tourism Press.

  • Zheng, X., & Zhang, J. F. (2002). Travel Safety Theory and Practice: Case study of fujian province, China. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Education and Social Scientific Research Society.


Abstract Views: 810

PDF Views: 0




  • Travel Risks Vs Tourist Decision Making:A Tourist Perspective

Abstract Views: 810  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Anshul Garg
Taylor’s University, School of Hospitality, Tourism & Culinary Arts, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract


This paper sheds light on tourist's emotional experiences on holiday, which are central to increase our understanding of tourist behaviour. Tourists usually travel to cities with good impression. Choosing a travel destination is definitely a complicated decision-making process for tourists. For safety concerns, some tourists intentionally visit somewhere familiar and nearby, but avoid nations or areas with high crime rates or political instability. A wide range of perceptions governs the desirability and appeal of a destination to the potential traveler. The importance of investigating perceptions of travel risks has been recognized with in a number of different disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, criminology and marketing. It is often assumed that perceptions of safety and security may influence individuals' destination choice. Consumers use information gathered from various sources like word of mouth, different forms of media, guidebooks, talking to friends and relatives, to form a perception of a particular destination. This is a quantitative study conducted in Malaysia. The respondents who participated in this research were the nationals of Malaysia, India, China, Indonesia, Australia, and France, etc. The study found that most holidaymakers perceive earthquake, tsunami, SARS, terrorist activities, swine flu as risk. The results of the study suggest that safety, peace and stability are major concerns for tourists' while choosing their travel destination.

Keywords


Destination, Safety, Risks, Decision Making, Perception.

References