Predicting information seeking regarding hurricane evacuation in the destination. (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cahyanto, Ignatius; Pennington-Gray, Lori; Thapa, Brijesh; Srinivasan, Siva; Villegas, Jorge; Matyas, Corene; Kiousis, Spiro
• Is Part Of: Tourism management. Volume 52(2016)
• Page Start: 264
• Page End: 275
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: Hurricane -- Evacuation -- Information seeking -- Crisis -- Tourist -- Florida; Tourism -- Periodicals; 338.4791
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2015.06.014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0261-5177

Abstract

Abstract: The study examined the roles of tourists' risk beliefs, connectedness, hurricane knowledge, and their past experiences with hurricane impacts in relation to their information seeking behavior regarding hurricane evacuation while in the destination. Surveys were collected from tourists who were visiting Florida in September 2011, during the Atlantic hurricane season. Findings from this study reveal and confirm the existence of the critical relationship among tourist information seeking, past experience with hurricanes, individual risk beliefs, and level of knowledge. It is recommended that destination managers make investments in hurricane communication messages, which target a wide array of tourists. The effectiveness of hurricane evacuation information is linked to the receptiveness of the content of the message by differing groups. Highlights: Risk belief positively affects information seeking regarding hurricane evacuation. Hurricane knowledge negatively affects information seeking regarding hurricane evacuation. Past experience with hurricane impacts negatively affects information seeking regarding hurricane evacuation.