Sensationalisation of Reported Violent Crimes: Perceptions of Vacationing Tourists

The paper focuses on the extent to which the media’s reporting of violent crime affects tourists’ perception of the destination. The survey showed a correlation between persons that were more exposed to negative media reports before embarking on their vacation and those that held a more negative view of their safety at the destination. Persons exposed to these reports were less affected since they exhibited less restrictive behaviour while at the destination. Visitors who had closer socio-cultural ties to the region were more exposed to negative reports and possessed a more negative view. The findings present implications for media coverage strategies and destination image management.