Using a delphi technique to determine the likelihood and tourism impact of a Chikungunya outbreak in the United States

ABSTRACT

The Delphi technique is a qualitative technique which consists of a series of systematic steps to combine the knowledge and opinion of experts regarding a specific topic and reach a consensus as a means of scenario building and forecasting. This technique is rarely used in tourism, albeit it has been recommended since 1990 (Green, H., Hunter, C., & Moore, B. [1990]. Assessing the environmental impact of tourism development: Use of the Delphi technique. Tourism Management, 11(2), 111–120). The goal of this research note is to demonstrate use of the Delphi technique as a means of building a richer depth of understanding about the likelihood of a Chikungunya outbreak and the impact to the tourism industry.

KEYWORDS:

• Chikungunya outbreak
• tourism
• Delphi study
• Florida
• behavioural intentions
• crisis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).