ABSTRACT
Although past research on natural disasters has investigated tourists’ perceptions and behaviours, few studies have explored residents’ attitudes, motivations and mindsets in rebuilding a destination after a natural calamity. Building on consumer behaviour research, we examine the role of the fresh start mindset as a psychological mechanism for residents that must overcome the consequences of natural disasters in tourist destinations. We conducted a quantitative study using a survey with a sample of 460 residents of La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain) during the volcanic eruption of 2021. The results show that residents’ fresh start mindset influences post-disaster tourism activities and shapes their perception of the positive and negative impacts of the tourism industry.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).