The influence of tourist risk perceptions on travel intention to mega sporting event destinations with different levels of risk

• Published in: Tourism economics : the business and finance of tourism and recreation Vol. 27; no. 3; pp. 419 - 435
• Main Authors: Kim, Minhong, Choi, Kyu Ha, Leopkey, Becca
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.05.2021; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Destinations; International travel; Multivariate statistical analysis; Perceptions; Political factors; Political risk; Risk levels; Risk perception; Terrorism; Tourism; Tourists; Travel; travel intention; political instability; terrorism risk; Mega sporting event; risk perception
• ISSN: 1354-8166; 2044-0375
• DOI: 10.1177/1354816619879031

While hosting mega sporting events brings various benefits to the host regions from the increased number of tourists, one of the main factors that deters tourists is the various types of risks associated with international travels. The sport tourism literature has highlighted terrorism risk and political instability as major concerns that impact travel intentions. This study examined and compared the influence of tourists’ risk perceptions on travel intentions across mega sporting event host destinations with different levels (i.e. apparent risks, less imminent risks, and unidentified risks) of such risks. Data were collected from 571 potential tourists via an online survey software and analyzed using a structural equation modeling technique. The results indicated that perceived terrorism risk significantly influenced the tourists’ travel intentions. Tourists’ terrorism risk perceptions toward South Korea (apparent risks) most significantly impacted their travel intentions, followed by general destinations outside of the United States (unidentified risks), while political instability was not significantly related to travel intentions. These findings offer practical implications for mega sporting event organizers.