Outdoor tourism: risk preference, information acquisition, and safety decisions

Purpose This study aims to explore the influence of risk preference and information acquisition on outdoor tourism safety decision-making. Design/methodology/approach Five hundred twenty outdoor tourists were surveyed, and data were analyzed using two-stage regression. Findings Risk preference positively affects tourists’ safety decisions for outdoor travel. The greater the risk preference is, the more likely the tourists are to make the risky decision of outdoor tourism. Information acquisition significantly negatively affects tourists’ safety decisions for outdoor tourism. Tourists who obtain information through social channels are more likely to make safer travel decisions than those who do not. Originality/value Risk preference and information acquisition are introduced into outdoor tourism safety research.