Tourists’ response to harassment: a study of international tourists to Ghana

Abstract

Increasing research has been devoted to investigating victimization of tourists at destinations with some research being committed to why and where harassments are perpetrated against tourists. This study brings up an important empirical aspect of tourists’ safety and security concerns that is still overlooked and provides an important piece to the puzzle in understanding tourists’ adaptation of coping or protective responses to harassment. An exit survey for 518 tourists departing Ghana was conducted in this regard. The study suggests that tourists’ responses are mixed ranging from a continuum of acceptance to resistance. These responses were significantly influenced by tourists’ marital status, age, travel party, awareness, and security. Greater resistance to harassment was also observed for tourists who reported such harassments.

Keywords:

• Coping
• harassment
• protection motivation
• tourists
• victimization