Communicating risk to tourists: A mental models approach to identifying gaps and misperceptions

A research article co-authored by a CTR researcher Dr. Hayato Nagai was published in Tourism Management Perspectives.

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Title

Communicating risk to tourists: A mental models approach to identifying gaps and misperceptions

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Authors

Giuseppe Aliperti, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University

Hayato Nagai, Faculty of Tourism, Wakayama University

Ana Maria Cruz, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University

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Source

Tourism Management Perspectives

Vol. 33

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2019.100615

*Indexed in Scopus

Journal details: https://www.scopus.com/sourceid/21100202157

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Abstract

This study compares the perspectives of government agencies, academic experts, and tourism suppliers on providing tourists with tsunami risk information. Previous studies highlight that government agencies are often in charge of developing tourism-oriented risk communication plans; academic experts are recognized as having a more in-depth understanding of the technical aspects of a risk, as well as the hazard development and potential effects; and tourism suppliers play a fundamental role during the risk communication process, due to direct connection with the tourists. However, tourists are often found to be insufficiently informed about risks and warning systems. We use the Mental Models approach, aiming to analyze the communication between the aforementioned categories of stakeholders. We carried out interviews and conducted field trips in Japan between April and December of 2018. Results highlight an increased general awareness regarding tourists' preparedness, poorly supported by risk-communication gaps, misperceptions, and a lack of efficacy analyses.

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Key words

Risk communication, Disaster preparedness, Mental models, Japan