Investigating perceived risks in international travel

Abstract

This study analyses perceived risks in international tourism and looks at how several key indicators contribute to the individuals' perception of risk in international travel. The purpose of this article is twofold: firstly, to explore the primary risk dimensions associated with international travel; and secondly, to investigate whether sociodemographic variables and past travel experience influence perceived risks. To achieve these purposes, a scale of perceived risks was previously tested using a sample of 530 respondents. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted and a scale of five factors of perceived risks towards travelling internationally was obtained, namely: physical risk, destination risk, value-time risk, personal concerns and inconveniences. This study also revealed that perceptions of risk involved while travelling internationally vary according to personal characteristics, such as gender, age and level of education, as well as past travel experience. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed