The Impact of Tourist Perception of Fraud Risk on Tourism Planning

Rasha Kassem, Daniel Santamaria

Research output: Chapter in Book/Published conference outputChapter (peer-reviewed)peer-review

Abstract

Fraud risk impedes tourism planning and competitiveness, and prior studies have shown that tourists are increasingly concerned about fraud risk. However, tourists’ perceptions of fraud risk have been given little attention in the tourism and consumer behaviour literature. Understanding tourists’ perceptions of fraud risk improves tourism planning and informs new marketing and communication strategies to mitigate some psychological barriers to travel post-pandemic. The aim of this study is two-fold. First, it sheds light on the impact of fraud risk and tourists’ perception of fraud risk in the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors. Second, it investigates tourists’ perception of fraud risk during the COVID-19 pandemic through a survey sent to two-hundred domestic and international tourists in the UK. The findings show that tourists perceive increased fraud risk during the pandemic. Specific types of fraud include insider, cyber, payment frauds, fraudulent holidays, refunds, and deals. We infer from these results that the perception of fraud risk is a new mediating factor behind the “word of mouth” effect and, as such, could inform communication and marketing strategies aimed at mitigating some psychological barriers to travel post-pandemic. Our findings have important implications for tourism, travel, and hospitality businesses in targeted investment, governance, and policy that we later discuss.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHandbook on Tourism Planning
EditorsPhilip Feifan Xie
PublisherEdward Elgar
Chapter14
Pages242-254
ISBN (Print)978180392 358 1
Publication statusPublished - 14 Dec 2023

Publication series

NameResearch Handbooks in Tourism
PublisherEdward Elgar

Bibliographical note

This is a draft chapter/article. The final version is available in Handbook on Tourism Planning, edited by Philip Feifan Xie, published in 2023, Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. at: https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/handbook-on-tourism-planning-9781803923581.html. The material cannot be used for any other purpose without further permission of the publisher, and is for private use only.

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • Fraud risk
  • Tourism
  • Hospitality
  • Perceptions
  • Ethics and morality
  • Attributions and inference making

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