Abstract (150 Words)

Risks associated with the Olympic Games have been studied; however, there is a lack of research that empirically examines whether exposure to external information influences prospective tourists’ destination risk perceptions. A survey of 1,200 British, Australian, and Canadian residents was conducted to examine factors that influence prospective tourists’ perceptions of increased crime in London during the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. The age group 55-64 was a significant predictor, while other age groups, income, and gender were not significant predictors. While controlling for demographics, past experience traveling to London and attending the Games were not significant predictors. Travel advisories and reading about the London riots were significant predictors, while watching television coverage of the riots and reading social media messages related to crises in London were not significant predictors while controlling for demographics and past experience. Lastly, travel risk perceptions were a significant predictor, while controlling for the previous independent variables.

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Examining whether exposure to external information influences perceptions of increased crime at an Olympic Games host destination: The case of London 2012

Risks associated with the Olympic Games have been studied; however, there is a lack of research that empirically examines whether exposure to external information influences prospective tourists’ destination risk perceptions. A survey of 1,200 British, Australian, and Canadian residents was conducted to examine factors that influence prospective tourists’ perceptions of increased crime in London during the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. The age group 55-64 was a significant predictor, while other age groups, income, and gender were not significant predictors. While controlling for demographics, past experience traveling to London and attending the Games were not significant predictors. Travel advisories and reading about the London riots were significant predictors, while watching television coverage of the riots and reading social media messages related to crises in London were not significant predictors while controlling for demographics and past experience. Lastly, travel risk perceptions were a significant predictor, while controlling for the previous independent variables.