ABSTRACT

Tourist Preparedness Through Exploration of Destination Attributes' Influence on Risk Perception in Disaster-Prone Tourist Destinations

Tourist safety is crucial in tourism management along coastal areas due to natural disaster threats. The influx of tourists into disaster-prone areas can increase social vulnerability, necessitating tourists who are prepared for disasters. Theoretically, preparedness is built through individuals' perception of risk; therefore, those who perceive risk proportionally are vigilant and help reduce the negative impacts of disasters.

To date, several studies have explored the influence of risk perception on community preparedness attitudes in coastal areas. Much research has explored factors influencing community risk perception. However, research specifically on tourist preparedness for disasters in coastal areas is scarce, leading to insufficient guidelines for tourism management and marketing policies.

Since 2016, researchers have focused on understanding psychological and psychosocial factors influencing risk perception. This presentation will share insights into a model of tourist preparedness behavior based on factors that strengthen and weaken risk perception. The model indicates the role of massive tourism infrastructure development and comfortable facilities in reducing tourists' perception of risk and consequently leading to low disaster preparedness. Therefore, educating tourists about disasters is essential to raise their risk perception and preparedness.

This model is built on quantitative research conducted through surveys of tourists in a tsunami-affected area, Pangandaran Beach, West Java. Data was analyzed using SEM-PLS to examine the relationships among destination factors, knowledge, risk perception, and tourist preparedness.

If in Cairns, the seminar is being held in D3.003 at The Cairns Institute.

Join via zoom link: https://jcu.zoom.us/j/81338943258?pwd=473E5uOuqNRH9QWdW4QBa4pMlOHRgJ.1

Image: Pangandaran Beach, West Java. Credit: Sophie B/Tripadvisor